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Bulldogs Dash To Last-Second Win

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The Associated Press

Published: March 22, 2009

PORTLAND, Ore. - Freshman Demetri Goodson streaked the length of the court and made a short, running bank shot with 0.9 seconds left, lifting fourth-seeded Gonzaga past Western Kentucky 83-81 Saturday night.
Gonzaga (28-5) advanced to the South Region semifinals against top-seeded North Carolina on Friday in Memphis, Tenn.
Steffphon Pettigrew hit a tip-in for the 12th-seeded Hilltoppers (25-9) that tied it at 81 with 7.2 seconds left. But Goodson took the inbounds pass and went straight to the basket, hitting from close on the left side.

Western Kentucky, which made a surprise run to the region semifinals last year, was led by Orlando Mendez-Valdez with 25 points.

This was the 11th straight victory for the Zags, who won the West Coast Conference regular-season title and tournament. The Hilltoppers won the Sun Belt Conference.

Josh Heytvelt's layup with 7:34 left made it 67-64, and he made a bank shot and free throw that put Gonzaga ahead 81-72 with 2:14 left.

But Mendez-Valdez hit a 3-pointer to make it 81-77 with 1:30 to go. After a Zags turnover, Mendez-Valdez hit Pettigrew for a breakaway dunk with 58.7 seconds left that made it 81-79. Pettigrew's tip-in tied it.
Matt Bouldin had 20 points and eight rebounds for Gonzaga. Jeremy Pargo added 18 points.

Mendez-Valdez hit seven 3-pointers for the Hilltoppers, who had won eight straight going into the game. A.J. Slaughter added 24 points.

The Associated Press

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