Gonzaga Defeats UCLA in Thrilling NCAA Tournament Semifinal
Gonzaga and UCLA met once again in the NCAA tournament, delivering another heart-stopping finish in a game that will go down as an instant classic. The Bulldogs prevailed over the Bruins 79-76 in an NCAA tournament West Regional semifinal at T-Mobile Arena.
The game was a nail-biter from start to finish, with UCLA rallying from an eight-point deficit in the final minute to take a one-point lead with 12.2 seconds left. However, Gonzaga’s Julian Strawther hit a deep 3-pointer to take back the lead with 7.2 seconds left, securing the Bulldogs’ victory.
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Gonzaga Advances to the Elite Eight
With the win, Gonzaga advances to the Elite Eight, where they will face off against the fourth-seeded Connecticut. This victory marks UCLA’s third straight loss to Gonzaga in as many seasons and the second consecutive Sweet 16 exit from the NCAA tournament.
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Drew Timme Leads Gonzaga to Victory
Gonzaga center Drew Timme had a dominant performance, scoring 36 points on 16-of-24 shooting with 13 rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes. Strawther finished with 16 points, and Malachi Smith added 14. The Bulldogs outscored UCLA 30-8 from the 15:25 mark until the 2:38 mark of the second half, which included a span of 11 minutes and 20 seconds without a made field goal.
UCLA Fights to the End
Despite being without two starters in Jaylen Clark and Adem Bona, the Bruins fought hard and played with tremendous heart. Pac-12 Player of the Year Jaime Jaquez Jr. had a phenomenal performance, scoring 29 points on 12-of-25 shooting and grabbing 11 rebounds in his final game as a Bruin.
“Every game, try not to get too high, try not to get too low,” said Jaquez. “He (Strawther) hit a big shot and we lost.”
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UCLA Coach Mick Cronin Praised His Team’s Effort
UCLA coach Mick Cronin praised his team’s effort despite the loss, saying, “I told (the team) how proud I was of them because they didn’t flinch. You lose two of the best players in the Pac-12, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, we still expect to win, and we’re still upset we lost.”
The Bruins were outrebounded 50-26, with Gonzaga having 16 offensive rebounds and 20 second-chance points. Despite the loss, UCLA fought hard until the very end and showed tremendous resilience and determination.
In conclusion, the Gonzaga-UCLA matchup delivered another thrilling game that will go down as an instant classic. Gonzaga’s Drew Timme had a dominant performance, leading the Bulldogs to victory and into the Elite Eight. Despite the loss, UCLA fought hard and played with tremendous heart, showcasing their resilience and determination.
