GLENDALE, Ariz. — Mark Few wrote the introduction for a book written by his college roommate Greg Bell about the power of perseverance. On Saturday night, the Gonzaga men’s basketball team that Few has built from a mid-major curiosity into a major championship contender provided him with the material for a postscript.
Gonzaga, making its 19th consecutive N.C.A.A. tournament appearance, advanced to its first national championship final with a 77-73 victory against South Carolina at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Bulldogs will face either North Carolina or Oregon in Monday night’s championship game.