MORAGA -- Jock Landale had 13 points and 10 rebounds and No. 20 Saint Mary's overcame its worst shooting game of the season to beat Portland 51-41 on Thursday night.
The Gaels (22-2, 12-1 West Coast Conference) used an 11-2 run midway through the second half to erase a 29-28 deficit and set up Saturday's duel with unbeaten and top-ranked Gonzaga at McKeon Pavilion.
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Emmett Naar added 11 points and Joe Rahon scored 10 for the Gaels, who shot 14 for 18 from the free throw line in the second half after not attempting a foul shot in the opening 20 minutes.
The Gaels' 51 points matched their season low. They shot 30.6 percent (15 for 49) after starting 3 for 16.
Jazz Johnson scored 10 points for the last-place Pilots (9-16, 2-11), who lost their 11th straight game. Portland shot just 26 percent in the second half, when it scored only 19 points.
The teams were tied 22-all at halftime as Saint Mary's shot 29 percent, including 4 for 17 from 3-point range, for its lowest-scoring first half of the season.
BIG PICTURE
Portland still has not won in the 2017 calendar year. The Pilots' most recent victory was 73-60 over Pepperdine on Dec. 31.
Saint Mary's continues to strengthen its position for an NCAA Tournament bid and set up Saturday's showdown with No. 1 Gonzaga for the WCC lead.
UP NEXT
The Pilots play Saturday at Loyola Marymount, which won 79-78 when the teams met last month at Portland.
With unbeaten Gonzaga coming to town Saturday, the Gaels play an AP No. 1 team in Moraga for the first time since Bill Russell and San Francisco visited on Feb. 17, 1956. The Dons won 74-63 on the way to their second straight NCAA title.