Gonzaga blitzes UCLA early, as showdown turns one-sided

LAS VEGAS — UCLA manager Mick Cronin had a connection for his squad aft the Bruins sputtered to a triumph implicit Bellarmine connected Monday nighttime – a triumph that helium said helium viewed arsenic a “loss” due to the fact that of the team’s performance.

He spoke astir attitude, approach, hustle, effort and execution. He besides said that his “challenge each twelvemonth is to marque definite (the team) stays humble.”

Cronin got immoderate assistance with that Tuesday nighttime arsenic top-ranked Gonzaga served up a heaping crockery of humility 2 days earlier Thanksgiving successful a nationally televised 83-63 triumph implicit the second-ranked Bruins astatine T-Mobile Arena.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the Bruins (5-1) with 19 points connected 7-of-22 shooting with six rebounds. Johnny Juzang and Tyger Campbell each scored 11 points apiece. UCLA changeable 35% from the tract (24 for 69).

Gonzaga’s Andrew Nembhard led each scorers with 24 points, and Drew Timme had 18 points and 8 rebounds.

For 35 minutes, the crippled was ne'er close. Gonzaga (6-0) started the crippled 6 for 7 from the tract portion UCLA’s shooting woes from Monday nighttime carried implicit into a 2-for-10 commencement successful the opening 5 minutes. A Rasir Bolton country 3-pointer made it 16-6.

The Bulldogs extended their pb to 24-8, including a 14-2 tally portion shooting 75% from the field. Cronin took a timeout astatine the 11:18 people of the opening half, and drew up a play for freshman Peyton Watson. Watson worked to get an unfastened changeable successful the mediate of the key, but helium missed it.

Moments later, Holmgren made a layup earlier Johnson missed 1 of his ain that led to different Bolton 3-pointer to marque it 29-8. Nembhard had 2 consecutive coast-to-coast layups that made the scoreboard ugly. UCLA trailed 33-10 with 8:37 to play successful the archetypal half.

It was 45-25 astatine halftime.

Holmgren was impressive, and dominant. He had a series successful the archetypal fractional that dazzled the assemblage erstwhile helium had 1 of his 4 blocked shots astatine the rim past had a behind-the-back determination that ended successful a two-handed dunk connected the different extremity of the court.

UCLA trimmed the shortage to 16 points with astir six minutes near into the 2nd fractional (56-40), but Gonzaga, again, had a effect that halted immoderate scent of a comeback. Julian Strawther deed a 3-pointer to balloon the pb backmost to 19.

Holmgren deed a 3-pointer with 1:41 near to balloon the pb backmost to 20 astatine 79-59. The freshman finished with 15 points, six rebounds and 4 blocks.

Gonzaga’s pb ne'er dropped nether 18 points successful the last 10 minutes of the game.

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