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Dec 28, 2024 6:57 pm

No. 22 UCLA edges No. 14 Gonzaga in another classic between rivals

UCLA

Sebastian Mack made up for a pair of missed late free throws by converting a three-point play with 33 seconds remaining as No. 22 UCLA earned a 65-62 victory over No. 14 Gonzaga on Saturday in the West Coast Hoops Showdown at Inglewood, Calif.

Eric Dailey Jr. led UCLA with 18 points and shot 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Kobe Johnson scored all 12 of his points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc for the Bruins and added eight rebounds.

Skyy Clark scored 11 points for UCLA (11-2) with a game-high nine rebounds, while dishing out seven assists.

Graham Ike led all scorers with 24 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the floor for Gonzaga (9-4) and snared eight rebounds. Ryan Nembhard finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Bulldogs.

Tied 58-58 with 1:18 remaining, Mack drew a shooting foul on Gonzaga’s Ike but missed both free throws. Ike’s rebound led to Nembhard’s go-ahead, pull-up jumper with 56 seconds to go as Gonzaga led 60-58.

Mack earned a chance at redemption when he scored on a floater with contact from Emmanuel Innocenti. Mack’s bonus foul shot put the Bruins ahead 61-60 to help make up for a rough 1-of-7 shooting afternoon.

Clark made a pair of free throws after Dusty Stormer’s missed 3-point attempt as UCLA grabbed a 63-60 lead with 13 seconds remaining.

The Bruins needed the cushion, as Gonzaga executed a length-of-the-court play that sprung Nembhard for a streaking layup while he was fouled by Mack. But Nembhard missed the free throw that would have tied the game.

Down by three in the closing seconds, Nembhard inexplicably took a shot from well beyond half court with four seconds still remaining that was off target.

The victory was the Bruins’ first over the Bulldogs since 2015, and the fourth game between the teams since the 2020-21 season that was decided by four points or fewer.

Gonzaga lost guard Khalif Battle early in the first half when he was ejected for a flagrant foul call on a blocked-shot attempt against Dailey. Battle’s ejection contributed to a rough opening for Gonzaga, which trailed by 11 before pulling within two points by halftime.

Neither team led by more than six points over the final 17:12.

–Field Level Media

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