UCLA
11-2,2-0Big Ten
Gonzaga
9-4,0-0WCC
No. 22 UCLA Downs No. 14 Gonzaga, 65-62
December 28, 2024 | Men's Basketball
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The No. 22-ranked UCLA men's basketball team outlasted No. 14-ranked Gonzaga, 65-62, in the first collegiate basketball game played at Intuit Dome before a crowd of 12,272 on Saturday afternoon.
In a non-conference contest that featured three lead changes and eight ties, the Bruins (11-2) took the lead for good with 33 seconds to play. Trailing by a 60-58 margin, Sebastian Mack scored under the basket and drew a foul, knocking down the free throw with 33 seconds left to give UCLA a 61-60 cushion.
The Bruins' defense forced a missed 3-pointer by Gonzaga on the other end of the court, before Skyy Clark's free throws with 13 seconds left put the Bruins on top, 63-60. Clark was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the game's final 13 seconds, helping to seal the win for UCLA.
With 13 seconds remaining, Gonzaga (9-4) quickly answered with a layup from Ryan Nembhard, who was fouled on the play. Nembhard missed the ensuing free throw attempt, which was rebounded by Clark, who made another pair of free throws with five seconds left to give UCLA a 65-62 advantage. Gonzaga was unsuccessful on its final possession, missing a long-heave from near the half-court line.
The Bruins finished the game having shot 50 percent (12-for-24) from 3-point range and 36.4 percent overall (20-for-55). Gonzaga made 7 of 24 long-range attempts (29.2 percent) and finished the game having shot 45.5 percent overall (25-for-55).
UCLA's Postgame Press Conference Video
"I know we can shoot because I see us every day," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "Shooting can come and go. We started off bad … I think that stats can sometimes be skewed, especially when you play games that you win by 60 or 70 points, which they do. So I don't know, I haven't cued up their stats against high major opponents, and it's not the same as their overall shooting stats. But we did try to spread them out and we did try to post our guards today. Eric [Dailey Jr.] didn't even practice. He got his mask in today for his nose. He hasn't even practiced with it and goes 4-for-5 from three and 4-for-6 from the line. That's what happens when you live in the gym."
Clark came close to logging a triple-double, totaling 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists (team-highs for UCLA in rebounds and assists). Eric Dailey Jr. led UCLA in scoring with 18 points and was 4-of-5 on 3-pointers.
Kobe Johnson scored 12 points off a career-high-tying four 3-pointers and added eight rebounds, and Lazar Stefanovic also scored in double digits with 10 points.
Graham Ike led Gonzaga with 24 points on 11-of-16 shooting and added seven rebounds. Ryan Nembhard was Gonzaga's only other player to score in double figures, totaling 16 points and a team-best eight assists.
Gonzaga jumped out to a 7-3 lead to start the contest before the Bruins tied the game, 7-7, on a pair of free throws by Dailey and a jumper by Stefanovic. The Bulldogs regained the lead, 11-7, while holding UCLA scoreless for nearly five minutes, but consecutive 3-pointers by Stefanovic and Clark gave UCLA a 13-11 advantage with 7:29 to play in the half.
Three three-point plays – a Dailey Jr. three, a Trent Perry and-one and a 3-pointer by Tyler Bilodeau – opened UCLA's lead to 22-13 with 5:29 remaining. The Bruins used a 17-2 scoring run during that stretch, capped by a Clark jump shot to forge ahead, 24-13. Gonzaga rallied back at the end of the first half, scoring nine consecutive points to cut its deficit to just 27-25 at the intermission.
After Gonzaga scored a quick basket to start the second half (tying the game, 27-27), UCLA went on an 8-0 run, bookended by a pair of Kobe Johnson 3-pointers to go up, 35-27.
Ike scored his ninth point of the second half on a 3-pointer to tie the game, at 37-37, before Dailey answered with two consecutive 3-pointers to put the Bruins up, 43-37. Gonzaga went on another scoring run, 8-0 over 1:16, including a pair of fast break 3-pointers, to regain the lead at 45-43 with 12:22 left. A 3-pointer by Emmanuel Innocenti at 9:09 gave Gonzaga a 49-45 lead.
Johnson's 3-point basket (his fourth of the game) with 3:24 to play tied the score at 57-57.
Both teams traded free throws, as the score was knotted up 58-58 with under two minutes remaining. After a missed jump shot by Gonzaga, Mack was fouled headed to the hoop but missed both free throw attempts.
The Bulldogs came back with a short jumper by Nembhard at 0:56 to take the lead, 60-58, but Mack made up for his earlier missed free throws with an and-one opportunity to give UCLA a 61-60 cushion with 33 seconds left.
UCLA's win snapped a four-game losing streak in the all-time series against Gonzaga. UCLA and Gonzaga have faced each other in each of the last five seasons (including this season), with two of those games taking place in the NCAA Tournament.
The Bruins will next play on the road at Nebraska in a Big Ten Conference game on Saturday, Jan. 4. UCLA's contest in Lincoln, Neb., will be televised on FOX at 11 a.m. PT (1 p.m. CT).
UCLA will return home to face Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m. (PT) in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
Game Notes: UCLA tied its season high for made 3-pointers (12, also against Oregon on Dec. 8) … Kobe Johnson tied his career high for made 3-pointers (four, accomplished in two prior games) … Eric Dailey Jr. made a career-best four 3-pointers on Saturday … Skyy Clark grabbed a career-best nine rebounds and tied his season high in assists (seven) … Clark was 4-for-4 at the free throw stripe, with all four of those attempts taking place in the game's final 15 seconds … UCLA has closed the non-conference portion of its schedule with 11 wins in 13 games (and will now enter a stretch of 18 consecutive Big Ten games).
