Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. -- Despite 23 points from Eric McClellan and Domantas Sabonis' 10th double-double, Gonzaga was unable to close out Saint Mary's in a 70-67 loss on the road on Thursday night in Moraga, Calif.

Gonzaga turned an eight-point halftime lead into a 15-point lead midway through the second half, but Saint Mary's found its stroke from the field to close the gap. SMC took the lead with 2:45 to play and made three of four free throws in the last seven seconds to seal the win.

McClellan's 23 points were a game-high and his highest-scoring game since joining the Zags midseason last year. For the game, he made 9-of-12 from the field, including three threes to lead the way. Sabonis added 17 points and 13 rebounds while Kyle Dranginis had 13 points with three three-pointers.

McClellan got the Zags out to a fast start, scoring 10 of the first 14 Gonzaga points for a 14-7 lead in the first five minutes. Gonzaga pushed its first half lead to as many as 12 at 24-12, but Saint Mary's closed within six until Dranginis sandwiched a pair of threes around a Gael bucket to give the Zags a 34-26 halftime advantage.

To start the second half, four straight buckets by Sabonis and a huge putback dunk by McClellan again pushed the GU lead into double figures at 46-32 with 16:02 to play.

From that point, GU went up 50-35 before the Gaels chipped away over an eight-minute stretch to pull within three at 61-58. McCllelan answered with a three for a six-point GU lead with 4:35 to play, but SMC had a 7-0 run to go up 65-64.

After Dranginis tied it at 67-all, SMC's Joe Rahon made 1-of-2 from the line with seven seconds to go then fouled McClellan to put him on the line. McClellan's free throw missed and the Gaels secured the rebound and made two free throws for the final margin.

Gonzaga will wrap up the road swing at Pacific on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on KHQ and ROOT Sports.