UCLA 65-62 Gonzaga (December 28, 2024) Game Summary

On By Littum

LOS ANGELES — — Eric Dailey Jr. scored 18 points and made four 3-pointers, and the no. 22 UCLA edged 14th-ranked Gonzaga 65-62 Saturday in the first college basketball game played at the Intuit Dome, the new home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers.

Ryan Nembhard’s basket gave Gonzaga a 60-58 lead with 56 seconds left before the Bruins (11-2) scored five straight points. Sebastian Mack converted a three-point play with 33 seconds left to put UCLA ahead, and Skyy Clark hit two free throws 20 seconds later.

Nembhard then drove the length of the pitch and scored while being fouled. After a timeout, he missed the potential tying free throw with 8 seconds left.

Graham Ike fouled Clark, who made both free throws for a 65-62 lead with 5 seconds left. Nembhard’s 3-pointer from half court missed at the buzzer.

Ike led the Bulldogs (9-4) with 24 points and eight rebounds. Nembhard had 16 points and eight assists.

Graham was 11 of 16 from the floor on a day where both teams struggled offensively in the 18,000-seat arena.

It was a tough shooting day for UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau, who was limited to seven points — well below his team-leading 15.1 average — while going against Ike.

Takeaways

Gonzaga: The Zags fell to 3-4 on neutral courts.

UCLA: The Bruins improved to 2-2 on neutral courts. They were coming off a two-point loss to North Carolina in New York City last weekend.

Key moments

The Zags lost starter Khalif Battle (five points) when he was ejected with 4:12 left in the first half for a flagrant-2 foul on Dailey. Before it was reviewed, UCLA coach Mick Cronin tore off his jacket. Early in the second half, Dailey and Nembhard were called for double technicals as things got heated between the teams.

Key state

The Zags went 2 of 11 on 3-point attempts in the first half when they trailed by 11. They made five 3s in the second half.

Next

Gonzaga will stay in the Los Angeles area to visit Pepperdine on Monday. UCLA visits Nebraska on Jan. 4 in Big Ten play.

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This story corrects the score in the second period after Nembhard’s basket with 56 seconds left.

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