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Kelly Olynyk scores 31 points to help No. 9 Gonzaga hold off Saint Mary's 83-78

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk (13) puts in a dunk against Saint Mary's, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Jed Conklin) (The Associated Press)

Saint Mary's defense, from left, Beau Levesque, James Walker III (35) and Matthew Dellavedova (4) tries to stop Gonzaga's Kevin Pangos, as Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk watches in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Jed Conklin) (The Associated Press)

Kelly Olynyk scored 31 points and No. 9 Gonzaga held off Saint Mary's 83-78 on Thursday night in the latest installment of one of the best rivalries on the West Coast.

Kevin Pangos added 22 points for Gonzaga (16-1, 3-0 West Coast Conference), which has won seven straight since losing at home to Illinois. It was Olynyk's second consecutive 30-point game.

Stephen Holt led Saint Mary's (12-4, 1-1) with 23 points.

Gonzaga led by 20 early in the second half but had to stave off a furious rally by the Gaels.

Holt hit three baskets and two free throws in a 90-second span to cut Gonzaga's lead to 55-44 with 13:27 left. Two more buckets by Holt and two by Kyle Rowley made it 59-53, as the Bulldogs suddenly couldn't find the basket.