The first half looked like UCLA was going to travel to the Elite 8.
But they don’t call it March Madness for nothing.
The three-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs overcame the tremendous deficit, and not without stress at the end, to win an instant classic over No. 2 UCLA, 79-76.
The Bulldogs were down 46-33 at the half, but something was said in the locker room that made them look like a whole different team when they all got back on the court.
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Drew Timme #2, Anton Watson #22, Julian Strawther #0 and Malachi Smith #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs react after a timeout called during the second half against the UCLA Bruins in the Sweet 16 round of the Men’s Basketball Tournament at the NCAA at T-Mobile Arena on March 23, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Bulldogs battled all the way back (quite quickly) turning what seemed like an insurmountable deficit into, well, the same thing, just in reverse. The Bulldogs went on a 20-3 run at one point in the second half to lead by 10 with 2:30 to go.
But UCLA was not dead. They battled all the way back to the tail for two with less than 35 seconds to go. After Drew Timme missed a pair of free throws, UCLA had a chance to win on the final shot.
They didn’t save it for the last second, but Amari Bailey hit a 3-pointer to put the Bruins back up with 12.4 ticks to play.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 23: Anton Watson #22 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts to a play during the second half against the UCLA Bruins in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 23 March 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
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But the Bulldogs had a chance to save themselves one last time, and they cashed in: Julian Strawther answered with a 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds remaining, and after UCLA turned the ball over, Strawther made another free throw to put Gonzaga up. three. The Bruins’ midcourt jerk at the buzzer blocked the rim.
Timme may have slowed down towards the end, but for the first 30 minutes of the competition, he was nothing short of dominant. He scored 33 of Zaga’s first 56 points: he finished with 36 points and 13 rebounds.
Gonzaga harassed the Bruins on the glass, outrebounding them 50-26.
Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts after scoring against the UCLA Bruins during the second half of the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 23, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
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Gonzaga will not face fourth seed UConn in the Elite 8 on Saturday in Las Vegas after the Huskies’ dominant win over No. 8 Arkansas.