LAS VEGAS – In April, Gonzaga and UCLA hosted one of the four greatest Finals in college basketball history, one decided on a Jalen Suggs whistle machine during overtime that would become an iconic moment.
However, in Tuesday’s rematch at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, there were no miracle shots – just No. 1 Gonzaga dominating No. 2 UCLA with an 83-63 win.
One of the season’s top non-league games was seen as a potential national championship preview. Instead, it’s an introduction to a team Gonzaga will face Duke on Friday in another matchup between two of America’s best.
Gonzaga took 57.7% of his shots in the first half and led 45-25 at the break. The Bruins, who scored 90 points in a loss to Gonzaga in Indianapolis in extra time, missed 25 of their first 31 shots on Tuesday. They cannot hit 3 points. Gonzaga was ready to surrender and they couldn’t find any space in the arc as they searched for other ways to score.
The length of Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren UCLA’s complex plans. Holmgren has four blocks in the game. Gonzaga overtook the Bruins 34-30 in paint scores, while also achieving 39% of its 3-point attempts.
Andrew Nembhard (24 points) is one of four players to score double-digits for the Bulldogs, who will spend Thanksgiving in Las Vegas as they prepare for the Blues.
After his team won Center Michigan on Monday, coach Mark Few said the team will gain more experience over time as it continues to grow.
“We are new and we are learning fast,” he said.
Some also say the UCLA game is an example of an early introduction that could help the sport.
“I think that’s what we all, we have to collectively when the coaches try to do,” he said. “I think, you know, rather than waiting for all of the attention to be on all of us in March, I think there’s a golden opportunity here to really focus on the sport as a whole when it comes down to it. I’m going.”
