Gonzaga's Anton Watson's outstanding performance led the team to a 69-65 victory over UCLA in the Maui Invitational. Watson scored a career-high 32 points, with 14 of 15 field goals, and reached 1,000 career points. The game saw a total of 51 fouls, with Gonzaga's offense stalling when Watson left the game due to foul trouble. Despite UCLA's efforts, Gonzaga's lead was maintained, securing their fourth consecutive win over UCLA. The Bulldogs missed all 13 3-point attempts in the second half and 16 consecutive 3-pointers in a previous game. Syracuse struggled against Gonzaga, with a small run closing the deficit to 27-17. Gonzaga led 39-25 at halftime, with Syracuse struggling to make shots. The Bulldogs faced UCLA after beating Chaminade 76-48, with Watson's exceptional performance contributing to their victory.
UPDATED: Foul trouble dooms UCLA during a close loss to No. 11 Gonzaga https://t.co/wOFy6udeuH
If anyone located in Pacific Time is still awake, the final numbers from #Gonzaga's 69-65 win over #UCLA. Can't emphasize enough how much the Bulldogs needed Anton Watson's 32 pts. tonight. He was 14 of 15 (93%) from the field. Other GU players: 9 of 38 (23%). https://t.co/JPjrklBUqW
Foul trouble dooms UCLA during a close loss to No. 11 Gonzaga https://t.co/wOFy6udMkf
#Gonzaga beats #UCLA for the fourth time in as many years, winning 69-65 at the @MauiInv. The game wasn’t always pretty on the eyes (51 fouls), but Anton Watson was superb, scoring a career-high 32 pts. on the same night he reached 1,000 for his career. https://t.co/JrRAtccUnx
Anton Watson goes for 32 points as Gonzaga defeats UCLA again, 69-65, in Maui fifth place game that ended at 219 am Eastern. Raise your hand if u stayed up for the finish. that's four straight for Zags over the Bruins.
UCLA loses to Gonzaga 69-65
Gonzaga's Anton Watson has 23 points on 10-for-11 shooting.
Anton Watson drills his second 3-pointer of the game to match his career-high (23 pts.) and extend #Gonzaga's lead to 53-42 with 11:40 to go.
Anton Watson now up to 20 pts. Can't imagine where #Gonzaga would be in this game without him. Bulldogs up 49-42.
Not sure if the sport will ever recover from that first half. UCLA and Gonzaga combined for 29 fouls. Bulldogs lead 38-34 in what felt like a one-sided game in their favor. UCLA shot 30.8% to Gonzaga's 40.6% but made 17 of 23 free throws compared to Bulldogs making 9 of 17.
Half: #Gonzaga 38, #UCLA 34. Bulldogs' offense got stagnant once Anton Watson (15 pts.) left the game with his second foul. By the way, there were 29 of those in the first half. Zags and Bruins shot 40 free throws. https://t.co/tQ7SxnT8bQ
#UCLA's closed the gap to 38-33 with 32 seconds to go in this half. Four turnovers for Ryan Nembhard through the first 20 min. Nobody else who's played for #Gonzaga has one.
UCLA really blew an opportunity right there. Dylan Andrews tries to do Eurostep and gets shot blocked and Gonzaga counters with a three-pointer. It could have been a four-point game but instead Gonzaga is up 33-24.
Anton Watson's going to make 3's tonight too? That's 15 pts. (7-7 FG) for the #Gonzaga senior. Plus a game-high 5 reb.
Gonzaga's Anton Watson up to 15 points on seven-for-seven shooting.
#Gonzaga-#UCLA part four later. This right now. https://t.co/agFjgN98GG
UCLA beats Chaminade 76-48. Gonzaga up next Wednesday night. 👀
Gonzaga leads 39-25 at the half. Syracuse is, to put it mildly, struggling to make shots. Also, the Zags are bouncing out in transition and are also executing in the half-court.
#Syracuse shows some life with a small run to close the deficit to 27-17. Other than that, it's been all #Gonzaga early on. Anton Watson, who was scoreless in the first half yesterday, is already up to 10 pts. and 5 reb.
#Syracuse just 1 of its last 8 from the field and 3 of 14 in this first half. #Gonzaga leads it 19-8. Graham Ike and Anton Watson with 6 pts. apiece. Ike has 6 reb. as well.
I think Syracuse has a shot to beat Gonzaga tomorrow. https://t.co/C4O38zaLBA
Final stats. If #Gonzaga makes even 2 of 13 from the 3-point line, we're probably looking at a close game entering the final 2 min. Bulldogs missed all 13 3-point attempts in the second half and 16 consecutive 3-pointers. https://t.co/m8uGElMs83