Gonzaga head coach Mark Few had already emptied the deepest portion of his bench Saturday when Rui Hachimura hit a 3-pointer in the waning moments, giving the Bulldogs a 24-point cushion.

Top-seeded Gonzaga didn't leave much to chance in a 83-59 blistering of Xavier in the West Regional final of the NCAA tournament.

It did, however, leave a series of downtown Coeur d'Alene bars in a spirited frenzy.

For the first time in program history, the Bulldogs crossed the Final Four threshold, evoking the emotions of blue- and red-clad fans in North Idaho, roughly 950 miles from the action in San Jose.

Victory sports bar on Sherman Avenue was stocked with Gonzaga fans who voiced their allegiance from the tip. But even when Gonzaga was able to keep Xavier at arm's length throughout the second half, GU graduate Mirna Pleines appeared stressed.

She'd seen Gonzaga meltdowns before.

This wouldn't be one of them.

When the final buzzer sounded, a misty-eyed Pleines had transformed into the happiest person in the new sports-themed bar.

"I'm at a loss for words," Pleines said. "This is so awesome. They have been amazing and have not gotten the proper credit. I am overwhelmed with joy. They finally proved everyone wrong. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you."

Throughout the course of the game, Victory's patrons stomped their feet in unison and and celebrated accordingly when Gonzaga punched its first national semifinal ticket. Gonzaga (36-1) will play the winner of today’s Florida-South Carolina game on Saturday.

Other bars were partying, too.

Behind Nigel Williams-Goss' team-high 23 points, including a 4-for-7 mark from 3-point range, the Bulldogs took a 49-39 lead into halftime. It was their defense, however, which impressed longtime Coeur d'Alene Gonzaga fans Steve and Teri Hamilton, who watched at the Eagles on Sherman Avenue.

The Hamiltons, dressed in their Gonzaga gear, liked Gonzaga's disruption of Xavier's offense.

"Few is probably in (the locker room) right now, telling them to keep up their defense," Teri Hamilton said.

"They're shooting the ball pretty well,too," her husband, Steve, replied.

When Williams-Goss hit a 3-pointer to start the second half to give Gonzaga 54-41 lead, the Hamiltons were ecstatic. Gonzaga shot an impressive 12 for 24 from beyond the ac.

A couple blocks down at The Beacon, Jake Robson, sporting a Gonzaga hat, looked on intently at the bar's flatscreen TV.

A dunk by Johnathan Williams midway through the second half was enough for Robson and his friends to get out of their chairs.

"They're playing very confident," Robson said. "They're not playing from behind. When you're playing from behind you always have those nerves. They're doing everything they need to do to maintain this lead. They clearly play better in front."