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Gonzaga Bulldogs 69, UCLA Bruins 65: Live updates recap from Maui Invitational

Anton Watson and the Bulldogs defeat the Bruins in final game of Maui Invitational

Cole Forsman

Gonzaga Bulldogs 69, UCLA Bruins 65: Live updates recap from Maui Invitational
Gonzaga Bulldogs 69, UCLA Bruins 65: Live updates recap from Maui Invitational /
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For the fourth consecutive season, the No. 11 Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated the UCLA Bruins on a neutral-site court.

The Zags (5-1) escaped another thriller against the Bruins (4-2) by a final of 69-65 in the final consolation game of the Maui Invitational behind a career-night from Anton Watson. The fifth-year senior dropped 32 points on 14-of-15 from the field, including 3-for-3 from 3-point range, to go with seven rebounds. Watson was a perfect 7-for-7 in the second half.

Sebastian Mack and Lazar Stefanovic had 16 points apiece for UCLA, which shot 35.2% from the field and 4-of-14 from deep. Despite a late run, the Bruins trailed for the final 16 minutes and change.

Fouls piled up for both teams, with a combined 51 personal fouls called and 60 free-throw attempts. Nwuba fouled out in 14 minutes off the bench, while Stefanovic and Adem Bona each had four. For Gonzaga, all eight players had at least three personal fouls including Graham Ike, who sat the final two minutes with four fouls.

Here is the live updates recap:

FINAL: Gonzaga 69, UCLA 65

SECOND HALF:

Gonzaga 69, UCLA 65 (0:01): Mack missed a contested floater inside, Gregg snatched the rebound and Stromer converted on both free-throws. Mack cut it to a 4-point game on a layup.

Gonzaga 66, UCLA 63 (0:56): Watson found Hickman on a backdoor cut to make it a 6-point game, before Stefanovic drilled his second 3-pointer to cut Gonzaga's lead in half.

Gonzaga 64, UCLA 58 (2:20): Ike picked up his fourth foul of the night, which sent Mack to the line where he went 1-for-2. Bruins entered the double-bonus. 

Gonzaga 64 UCLA 55 (3:54): Stromer's 3-pointer in the corner was tipped by Fibeuil, causing a shot-clock violation. The Bruins stayed alive at the free-throw line, where they went 22-for-29. Gonzaga went 14-of-25 from the charity stripe.

Gonzaga 60, UCLA 51 (7:24): Watson drilled his third triple of the night as he extended his career-high to 30 points on the night. His previous career-high was 23 points against Portland on Jan. 9, 2021.

Gonzaga 55, UCLA 46 (9:48): Watson drew an offensive foul in the post on Bona, his fourth of the night and UCLA's eighth personal foul of the half. The Bulldogs started 6-of-9 from the floor, while the Bruins went 5-for-11 from the field.

Gonzaga 53, UCLA 42 (11:40): Watson continued his hot night with his second 3-pointer to extend the Bulldogs' lead to double-digits. The Spokane native started with 23 points on 10-for-11 shooting from the floor. The Bruins, meanwhile, went without a field goal for five minutes.

Gonzaga 43, UCLA 41 (15:28): Stefanovic knocked down an open 3-pointer to give UCLA its first lead since the 19:00 mark in the first half. Watson responded with a turnaround hook in the paint as the Bulldogs and Bruins traded blows to start the second half. 

FIRST HALF:

HALFTIME: Gonzaga 38, UCLA 34: After the Bulldogs led by as many as 13 points, the Bruins knocked down 6 of its last 10 attempts to make it a two-possession game heading into the locker room. Watson led all scorers with 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting, but sat the final 7:46 of the half with two fouls. Both teams combined for 29 personal fouls and 30 free-throw attempts, as Stromer (2), Ike (2), Jun Seok Yeo (3), Gregg (3) and Huff (2) all dealt with foul trouble.

Gonzaga 38, UCLA 33 (0:32): UCLA made five of its last seven field goal attempts, while the Bulldogs went two minutes without a basket.

Gonzaga 33, UCLA 24 (3:25): Layup from Mack capped a 7-0 scoring run from the Bruins to cut the Bulldogs' lead to six. After a block from Gregg, Hickman responded with a 3-pointer for his second field goal of the night.

Gonzaga 23, UCLA 14 (7:46): Fouls piled up for both teams, with nine personal fouls apiece for the Bulldogs and Bruins. Watson, with 15 points, picked up his second personal foul to send Ilane Fibleuil to the free-throw line.

Gonzaga 15, UCLA 9 (11:37): Give-and-go between Huff and Watson extended the Bulldogs lead early in the first half. Watson scored 12 of Gonzaga's first 15 points on a perfect 6-for-6 start from the field. The Bruins started 2-for-9 with three turnovers. Both teams' starting centers picked up two quick fouls, as Ike and Aday hit the bench early.

Gonzaga 7, UCLA 3 (15:53): Watson brought the energy on both ends of the floor from the opening tip. After a powerful one-hand flush from the fifth-year senior, he stuffed Lazar Stefanovic at the rim to keep the Bruins off the scoreboard. UCLA missed five of its first six attempts from the floor.

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Cole Forsman
COLE FORSMAN

Cole Forsman is a reporter for Gonzaga Bulldogs On SI. Cole holds a degree in Journalism and Sports Management from Gonzaga University.

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