
The UCLA Bruins males’s basketball crew hosted the Gonzaga Bulldogs within the Intersport West Coast Hoops Showdown in Inglewood, CA on the Intuit Dome. The Bruins held off Gonzaga in a detailed sport 65-62. Each groups began off sluggish within the first couple of minutes of the primary half, lacking contested photographs and struggling to place factors on the board. Regardless of each groups managing to attain early, the Bruins went on a run across the six-minute mark main by 11 factors.
A vital second within the first half was when Bulldogs senior guard Khalif Battle obtained charged with a Flagrant two foul and was ejected from the sport on the four-minute mark. The Bulldogs didn’t let the absence of Battle disrupt their circulate as they completed the half on a 9-0 run.
Gonzaga Senior ahead Graham Ike scored a buzzer-beater jumper to shut the result in two, 27-25.
Gonzaga struggled within the first half, taking pictures 41 % from the sphere and simply 18 % from three-point vary. Nonetheless, the Bulldogs discovered their rhythm within the second half, enhancing to 50 % from the sphere and 38 % from past the arc.
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UCLA additionally turned issues round after a tough first half, the place they shot 29 % from the sphere however managed 42 % from three-point vary. Within the second half, they improved to 46 % from the sphere and a formidable 58 % from past the arc.
The second half grew to become an thrilling battle as each groups elevated their play. The Bulldogs and Bruins traded baskets and obtained stops once they had been most essential.
UCLA senior guard Kobe Johnson was a key issue throughout the second half, pulling down a number of three-point photographs to place his crew on an 8-0 run. Johnson completed with 12 factors and shot 4-6 from the three-point line.
The aggressive non-conference matchup marked three lead modifications and eight ties, majority of the shifts occurring within the second half. Bruin sophomore guard Sebastian Mack scored a three-point play to present UCLA the lead 61-60 lead with 33 seconds left and junior guard Skyy Clark knocked down a pair of free throws on the finish.

Gonzaga had two alternatives to ship the sport to extra time with senior guard Ryan Nembhard failing to finish a three-point play alternative with 8.1 seconds left and sophomore Dusty Stromer lacking a three-point shot.
Bruins Head Coach Mick Cronin is pleased with how his crew carried out in opposition to a bodily Gonzaga crew, however feels there’s all the time room for enchancment.
“You gotta be mature sufficient to appreciate, even for those who win, you gotta get higher,” Cronin mentioned. “I feel our subsequent sport is in Nebraska, I feel it’s been two years since they misplaced at dwelling. It’s not gonna cease, so you understand simply obtained to make use of all these items as an opportunity to be higher.”
Cronin additionally talked about his crew’s aim of constructing it to the NCAA March Insanity Match.
“You gotta get within the match, clearly for us you wanna attempt to keep on the West Coast since we already play in a East Coast league and attempt to win the match. That’s the life at UCLA. That’s why I got here to UCLA” Cronin commented.
UCLA will play in opposition to Michigan on Tuesday, January 7, at 7:00 P.M. in Pauley Pavilion.