Gonzaga and UCLA played an NCAA tournament game that left the Zags’ star player bruised, and another game that stunned the Bruins.
Add one more to the list. Probably the craziest March ever.
Julian Strother hit a 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left to answer a 3-pointer by UCLA’s Amari Bailey to give Gonzaga a wild 79-76 win over UCLA in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night.
“It’s the kind of moment you can’t make up,” said Strother, a Las Vegas native. “They are literally the moments you dream of. Even making a shot like that in March Madness and being back home in Vegas is like a cherry on top.
The Bruins (31-6), the West Region’s No. 2 seed, came back from an eight-point deficit in the final 1:05 to take a 76-75 lead on Bailey’s 3-pointer with 12.2 seconds remaining.
The Zags (31-5) brought the ball on the floor and Strother stepped in a 3-pointer after a drop pass from Hunter Solis, sending Gonzaga fans to their feet.
“As soon as it came out, it looked like it was on the line,” Strother said.
Zag still had to sweat.
Malachi Smith of Gonzaga stole the ball from Tiger Campbell of UCLA, but Strother hit only 1 of 2 free throws on the other end, giving the Bruins a chance.
Campbell’s 3-pointer at the buzzer hit the back of the rim, running the Jags off the bench and sending them into the Elite Eight against UConn on Saturday, while again frustrating the Bruins.
UCLA’s Jaime Jacquez, who had 29 points and 11 rebounds, said, “Every game, try not to get too high, don’t go too low.” He hit a big shot and we lost.”
Strother’s shot was reminiscent of Villanova’s Kris Jenkins making a drop pass to clinch the 2016 national championship — a shot that came after North Carolina’s Marcus Page hit an off-balance 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds left Was.
There’s a reason it looks familiar.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few said, “This is Jay Wright’s game that he used in the Villanova-Carolina championship.” “That’s what we call it. He makes it all the time.
It is also the latest chapter of the best West Coast rivalry in college basketball.
UCLA fared better in the teams’ first NCAA Tournament go-around, rallying from 17 points down to send the Jags out of the 2006 bracket and send Adam Morrison crying on the floor.
Jalen Suggs crushed the Bruins one last time, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the Zags to the 2021 national championship game.
“I can’t even describe what he did. It’s crazy,” Gonzaga’s Drew Timme said of Strother’s game-winner. “It’s like Jalen shot, man.”
Timme had 36 points to go along with 20 points for his record 10th NCAA tournament game.
The flurry of endings began more like a prize fight, with each team taking their turn in a game of wild swings.
UCLA led by 13 at half time but went on an 11-minute field goal drought as Gonzaga went up by 10 with 2:40 remaining. The Bruins got their rally going and re-took the lead, but left Gonzaga with too much time on the clock.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin said, “We should have been tougher on Strother.” “We were full game. We just weren’t on that play. If we were tight, he might not have backed down.
Timme kept Gonzaga in it during UCLA’s first half and Gonzaga’s porous first-half defense tightened in the second, giving them a seven-point lead with 53 seconds left.
Jaquez brought the Bruins back in his final college game.
The Pac-12 Player of the Year scored on a three-point play with 45 seconds left to cut it 74–71. Timme missed two free throws, setting up Bailey’s shot.
Thankfully for the Zags, Strother was on the mark with his long 3-pointer and Campbell was off his mark, sending Gonzaga into the Elite Eight for the fifth time under a few.