NCAA Tournament: Gonzaga beats UCLA, looks ahead to UConn in Elite Eight

The Bulldogs advance to the Elite Eight for the third time in five years

Julian Strawther’s go-ahead 3-pointer with six seconds left pushed Gonzaga past UCLA by a final score of 79-76 in Thursday’s Sweet 16 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The second-seeded Zags advance to Elite Eight where they will face fourth-seeded UConn at 5:45 p.m. PST on Saturday at the same venue.

Here are three takeaways from Gonzaga’s performance and a preview of what’s to come:

THE HOMETOWN KID WINS IT

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When UCLA guard Amari Bailey nailed a 3-pointer to put his team ahead 76-75 within 14 seconds remaining, it seemed the Zags had let this one get away from them.

However, after a timeout from Gonzaga, Julian Strawther drilled a 3-pointer from the March Madness logo to put the Zags back on top with six seconds to play. The shot ultimately secured the win for Gonzaga as UCLA failed to score in its final two possessions.

Strawther, who’s from Las Vegas, said it was special to have the game end this way in his hometown.

“It’s moments like that you can’t make up,” Strawther said. “Those are literally the moments you dream of. To even make a shot like that in March Madness and just to be back home in Vegas is like the cherry on top.”

TIMME TAKES OVER

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Winning is a group effort, but the Zags were led by a one-man wrecking crew named Drew Timme on Thursday.

Timme ended with 36 points on 16 of 24 shooting from the field, while also corralling 13 rebounds, dishing out four assists and blocking a pair of shots.

“We tried our best to stop him and we didn’t get it done,” said UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Timme kept the Zags afloat in the first half, scoring 15 of his team’s first 19 points to keep the deficit to one point after roughly eight minutes of play.

“We just got hit in the mouth, and we just had to battle and fight,” Timme said. “And in the first half, the ball just happened to be bouncing friendly to me.”

Other Zags stepped up late in the game, but Timme’s production never slowed down. He had 17 points and shot 7-for-9 in the second half.

Timme had a usage rate of 45.4% and took 40% of Gonzaga’s shots, which are the highest marks among players from both teams.

SMITH PROVIDES THE SPARK

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After registering two points in the first 24 minutes, Malachi Smith found a rhythm late in the second half and finished with 14 points.

Smith was instrumental in helping Gonzaga rally from a 13-point halftime deficit. He scored five consecutive points midway through the second half to give his team the lead, and later on, he connected on a 3-pointer to put the Zags ahead by 10 points with three minutes remaining.

“He was able to get to his spots really easily, get to his floater,” Strawther said about Smith. “And I mean, he was just making plays and he was bringing energy.”

Smith was also a force on the defensive end as well, helping to limit Bailey and Tyger Campbell to 2-for-12 shooting in the second half.

“When I got out there, I just wanted to have an impact and help slow those guys down and it was a total team effort,” Smith said. “But I just really take pride on the defensive end and I was glad I was able to contribute.”

NEXT UP IS UCONN

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After defeating UCLA, Gonzaga’s road to the Final Four doesn’t appear to be getting any easier.

The Zags have turned their sights to UConn, which defeated eighth-seeded Arkansas 88-65 on Sunday before Gonzaga and UCLA took the court.

“UConn is playing better than anybody in the tournament right now,” said Gonzaga head coach Mark Few. “I’ve got to see them several times. They’ve just done a fabulous job with roster building, I mean the pieces they have fit really really well.”

The Huskies are led by forward Adama Sanogo and guard Jordan Hawkins, who average 17.3 and 16.1 points per game, respectively. UConn is third in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency (120.9) while Gonzaga is No. 1 (123.5).

“I think it's gonna be a battle and we’re gonna have to play hard and gritty and we’re gonna have to get dirty and nasty and do whatever it takes to win,” Timme said.