LAS VEGAS (AP) — Braden Huff scored 18 points and Gonzaga avenged two regular-season losses to Saint Mary's, beating the 19th-ranked Gaels 58-51 in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs (25-8) secured the WCC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, though both teams were safely in the field regardless of the outcome.

They got some measure of revenge for losing to the Gaels in last year's title game and Gonzaga also extended its national record to 18 consecutive 25-win seasons.

Saint Mary's (28-5) had its seven-game winning streak stopped by Gonzaga's stellar defense. The Zags forced 18 turnovers and scored 20 points from those mistakes from the Gaels. Gonzaga also didn't allow a single three-pointer from SMC as the team went 0-for-16 from beyond the arc.

Khalif Battle scored 14 points for the Zags, Graham Ike added 11 and Ryan Nembhard had 10.

Mitchell Saxen led Saint Mary's with 20 points but scored only six after halftime. Augustas Marciulionis finished with 12 points.

Gonzaga entered the game with the higher Kenpom rating, ninth to 22nd for the Gaels. 

Takeaways
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs committed just four turnovers while forcing 18 that included two shot-clock violations in the closing minutes.

Key moment
Marciulionis' layup with 15:09 left brought Saint Mary's within a point, but Gonzaga held the Gaels without a field goal for the next 7:36 as GU built a 48-42 lead.

Up next
Gonzaga will find out its NCAA Tournament seeds and destinations on Sunday.