1337
By JoeBruin88. Filed in Sports and UCLA |Tags: basketball, Sports, UCLA
Impossible. No, improbable. Down by as much as 17 points in the first half, shooting abysmally, and playing uncharacteristically poor defense, UCLA seemed helpless in its regression to the Steve Lavin days of mediocrity. As one announcer bluntly put it, “UCLA has got to be embarrassed.”
Using changing defenses and a full-court press at times to keep UCLA off-balance, Gonzaga forced the Bruins to miss their first eight shots and turn the ball over seven times before making their first basket 8:43 into the game to cut it to 18-9.
Things were so bad that both teams got into the bonus before UCLA made its first shot and after back-to-back turnovers against the Bulldogs press, Farmar looked at the bench and shrugged his shoulders looking for any help he could get.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
But . . . just as they had done all season long, the Bruins proved their mettle in the second half, coming out strong with an 8-0 run. With pressure on the ball and their trademark defense, UCLA clawed its way back into the game. With Number One scorer in the nation, Adam Morrison, leading the way and scoring 24 points in the game, Gonzaga maintained the lead for the entire game. Well, almost the entire game.
For 39 minutes and 45 seconds, it was Gonzaga’s game to win. Even in the last minute of the game, UCLA was down by 5, 71-66, an almost insurmountable lead. About 20 seconds later, Farmar made a basket for 71-68. A defensive stop and block on Gonzaga’s possession provided Ryan Hollins with a good defensive position, which tempted a Gonzaga player to hold Hollins’ arm. FOUL! Hollins, a 60% free-throw shooter made both shots, 71-70, making it a one-point game with about 19 seconds remaining in the game.
UCLA’s Farmar stripped the ball on the ensuing inbounds play from a careless and off-guarded Gonzaga player. Mbah a Moute made the go ahead layup with about 10 seconds to go. 72-71 UCLA. Stifling defensive pressure again on Gonzaga’s inbounds play resulted in another steal by Mbah a Moute with only 2.6 seconds left in the game. Gonzaga’s fate was sealed, even though the Bruins’ leading scorer, Afflalo, made only one of two free throws. 73-71 UCLA. After a Hail Mary inbounds pass across the court, Gonzaga’s desperation shot was too strong with 1.9 seconds remaining . Time expired. UCLA advances to the Elite Eight to face Memphis in the Regional Final this Saturday.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
For the Zags, the final three-plus minutes would look like this: Five missed shots, three fouls and two turnovers. UCLA had scored the last 11 and won, 73-71. . . Morrison, his head down, his words brief, explained the game’s final minutes like this: “I missed the shots.”
Wayne Drehs, UCLA’s come-from-behind win breaks Zags’ hearts
in the background as Morrison laid sprawled on the court, his body racking with sobs.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/John Bazemore
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
Bottom line: Gonzaga melted under the pressure from UCLA’s suffocating defense.
Other ha-ha’s go out to former Number One Duke, star player also in tears after losing to LSU.