Gonzaga drills three-pointer in final seconds to clinch trip to Elite 8 as Drew Timme goes off
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The first half looked like UCLA was going to coast to a trip to the Elite 8.
But they don’t call it March Madness for nothing.
The three-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs overcame the tremendous deficit, and not without stress at the end, to win an instant classic over No. 2 UCLA, 79-76.
The Bulldogs were down 46-33 at the half, but something was said in the locker room that made them look like a totally different team when everyone returned to the floor.
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Drew Timme #2, Anton Watson #22, Julian Strawther #0 and Malachi Smith #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs react after a timeout called during the second half against the UCLA Bruins in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 23, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Bulldogs fought all the way back (rather quickly) turning what seemed like an insurmountable deficit into, well, the same thing - just the other way around. The Bulldogs went on a 20-3 run at one point in the second half to lead by 10 with 2:30 to go.
But UCLA was not dead. They fought all the way back to trail by two with less than 35 seconds to go. After Drew Timme missed a pair of free throws, UCLA had a chance to win on the final shot.
They didn't save it for the last second, but Amari Bailey hit a three-pointer to put the Bruins back up one with 12.4 ticks to play.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 23: Anton Watson #22 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts to a play during the second half against the UCLA Bruins in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 23, 2023 in Las Vegas,