Gonzaga broke UCLA’s coronary heart in March Insanity once more with Julian Strawther’s brand 3

The Gonzaga Bulldogs and UCLA Bruins already had a deep and storied rivalry within the males’s NCAA match coming into their Candy 16 matchup within the 2023 bracket on Thursday. The primary lasting picture of Zags basketball was Adam Morrison falling to the ground in tears after shedding to the Bruins within the 2006 Candy 16. Gonzaga acquired its revenge within the 2021 Remaining 4 with an much more memorable second: Jalen Suggs’ close to halfcourt buzzer-beater to place the then undefeated Zags into the nationwide title sport.

Add the 2023 version proper to the highest of the listing. Gonzaga beat UCLA, 79-76, due to an exciting game-winning shot within the remaining seconds that staved off an epic Zags collapse. Now Gonzaga is one win away from its third Remaining 4 within the final 5 males’s NCAA tournaments.

The Zags led by 10 factors with 2:30 left, however UCLA would storm again by forcing turnovers, making photographs, and watching Gonzaga miss its free throws. The Bruins took the lead with 13 seconds left when senior level guard Tyger Campbell discovered freshman taking pictures guard Amari Bailey for the go-ahead three. Gonzaga known as timeout and drew up a play for Strawther. To listen to head coach Mark Few inform it after the sport, Strawther had a learn to get downhill after receiving a excessive pitch. That wasn’t the one he selected. As an alternative, Strawther bombed a deep and audacious three that discovered the underside of the online.

The boldness it takes to even try that shot whereas down just one level within the remaining seconds is astronomical. That will be a foul search for most gamers in school basketball, however Few knew it was a very good shot for Strawther. The coach stated his staff practices that play recurrently, and Strawther usually takes and makes that shot.

The play was instantly harking back to Suggs’ game-winning shot towards UCLA within the 2021 Remaining 4.

In 2021, the rating was tied, and the clock was working out. Suggs had no different selection however to aim a close to halfcourt shot. Strawther very simply may have tried to get to the rim or discover an open teammate, nevertheless it positive looks as if he was searching the deep three your complete time.

The play that Gonzaga ran for Strawther was principally a carbon copy of what Jay Wright as soon as ran for Kris Jenkins when he hit the game-winning shot within the nationwide championship sport of the 2016 males’s NCAA match.

Strawther hit a really related game-winning shot for Gonzaga earlier this yr:

Drew Timme was the star for Gonzaga many of the night time, ending with 36 factors, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and two blocks. Nonetheless, Timme badly missed two free throws late within the sport that led to Bailey’s go-ahead three. He stated there’s no greater Strawther fan than himself after the sport.

Gonzaga now performs UConn, with the winner going to the Remaining 4.

The NCAA match is simply extra enjoyable when Gonzaga performs UCLA.