UCLA Loses on a Buzzer-Beater to Gonzaga in OT, 93-90

The Bruins played the best game against Gonzaga all season, and came up just short.

Cody Riley and Johnny Juzang go up for a rebound. (Photo credit: @UCLAMBB)

I don’t have much words at this point. Maybe in a few days, but not right now.

UCLA played Gonzaga better than any team has at this point. They took the game to overtime, they had the game tied with 3.3 seconds remaining, and it just wasn’t enough. Jalen Suggs hit a near-halfcourt buzzer-beater to knock off the Bruins by the final score of 93-90.

The Bruins had no right to be in this game on paper, and yet the team once again showed the toughness and fight that has come to characterize this tournament run for UCLA. They refused to lie down for the undefeated Zags, fought for every basket while making Gonzaga work for everything, and played the kind of game that UCLA fans everywhere should applaud.

I feel I should remind everyone that this game went to overtime! And Gonzaga needed a buzzer-beater to win! Gonzaga has only played one game all season with a final score that was less than 10 points, and yet the Bruins repeatedly stood in the center of the ring, took a punch from the Bulldogs, and asked for another. Just tremendous effort and heart shown by this squad.

Again, I’ll try and do something more in-depth later once this settles, but right now, I think all that really should be said is thank you. Thank you to UCLA basketball for reminding everyone what it’s like to believe in this program again.

Johnny Juzang led the Bruins with 29 points. Cody Riley led the team with 10 rebounds and Tyger Campbell led the team with seven assists. Drew Timme led the Bulldogs with 25 points.

One Takeaway

1. Player of the Game: Johnny Juzang, Tyger Campbell, Cody Riley, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Jules Bernard, David Singleton, Jake Kyman, Jaylen Clark, Kenneth Nwuba, Mac Etienne - The only appropriate way to do this.

Go Bruins.