What Gonzaga's Nolan Hickman and Ryan Nembhard said after loss to Saint Mary’s

“Obviously, I’m upset. Any game I lose, I would be mad. It’s how the game goes.”

Gonzaga senior guards Ryan Nembhard (0) and Nolan Hickman (11). / Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford

The Gonzaga Bulldogs were outplayed early and late by the rival Saint Mary’s Gaels, who won 74-67 at the Kennel on Saturday night to clinch the outright West Coast Conference championship. 

“We had chances and we got close later in the game to make a play defensively and I think we just messed up a lot of assignments and we didn’t get offensive rebounds at the same time,” senior guard Ryan Nembhard said. “We got within two, three, one, many times.”

Gonzaga fell behind 11-0 and never had the lead against their biggest rival. They did tie it in the second half but Gaels freshman Mikey Lewis exploited the zone defense and kept hitting clutch 3-pointers — he was 5 of 7 overall for the game — as Saint Mary’s spoiled Senior Night at the Kennel.

The Zags (21-8, 12-4) finish the regular season on the road with games against Santa Clara on Tuesday night and San Francisco on Saturday night. The Zags lost 103-99 to Santa Clara at the Kennel on Jan. 18 and beat USF 88-77 on Feb. 13. Gonzaga and San Francisco are currently tied for second place in the WCC.

“There’s a lot to play for still, there’s a lot we can still accomplish this year. We’ll figure it out,” Nembhard said.

Here are the highlights from the postgame press conference.

Nolan Hickman on missed assignments against Lewis

Saint Mary's guard Mikey Lewis. / Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford

“Just miscommunications, I would say, on the most part. Our bigs were having to come out. Just miscommunications, not knowing where he was at.”

Nembhard on the Zags being outrebounded by 12

Gonzaga's Braden Huff (34) and Michael Ajayi (1). / Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford

“That stat kind of tells you a lot. Our emphasis this week was rebounding the ball. We thought if we won the rebounding battle or kept it close, we’d probably win the game.”

Nembhard on the key if the Zags and Gaels have a rematch in the conference tourney

Gonzaga senior guard Ryan Nembhard. / Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford

“Probably rebounding.”

Hickman on the loss on Senior Night

Gonzaga senior guard Nolan Hickman. / Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford

“Obviously, I’m upset. Any game I lose, I would be mad. It’s how the game goes.”

Nembhard on Santa Clara making a WCC and school-record 23 3-pointers

Gonzaga senior guard Ryan Nembhard. / Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford

“We’ll have a better plan this time than we did last time. We’ll be a little more dialed into what they’re doing. We’ll figure it out tomorrow and the next day. It’s a short prep so we’ve got to flush this one.”

Nembhard on playing at the Kennel for the last time

Gonzaga Kennel Club. / Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford

“It’s special. It’s a special place to play hoops. Get chills every time. Unfortunately we couldn’t get the win on Senior Night in front of them because they’re the best fans in the world. It’s unfortunate.”

Hickman on playing in front of the Kennel Club a final time

Gonzaga senior guard Nolan Hickman. / Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford

“Greatest fans in the world. Shoutout to the Kennel Club, shout to our fans, man. Yeah man, it’s been a great four years. The journey’s been great. Guys have been nothing but welcoming. Yeah man, love the Kennel Club. Love all you guys.”

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MORE GONZAGA NEWS & ANALYSIS

• Despite Saint Mary’s loss Gonzaga still near top of college basketball rankings

• What Mark Few said after Gonzaga’s 74-67 loss to Saint Mary’s

• Saint Mary's stuns Gonzaga to clinch WCC title: Game recap, analysis

• Gonzaga humbled at home: 3 takeaways from Saint Mary’s WCC-clinching victory at the Kennel

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