In a rivalry that has produced some memorable games, 14th-ranked Gonzaga on Saturday became the first college team to play in Intuit Dome, the university’s new $2 billion home, with a total They will face 22nd place UCLA in a new setting. Saturday’s matchup with the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, Calif., will be the fifth of the season between the programs. Gonzaga (9-3) has won each of its past four games, but the 69-65 decision at last season’s Maui Invitational was the third of four games decided by four points or less. Close games have been troubling for Gonzaga early this season. Following back-to-back losses against Kentucky (90-89 in overtime) on December 7th and against University College (77-71) on December 14th, the Bulldogs are 0-3 in games decided by less than 8 points. It fell to After Gonzaga’s last two games (home losses to Nichols and Bucknell), the Bulldogs’ average point differential is 28.1 points per game. Their most competitive win was an 88-80 victory over Arizona State on November 10, which was also the Bulldogs’ only win decided by single-digit points. Gonzaga coach Mark Few expects Saturday’s events to reflect the close games his team has faced in the opening weeks of this season. “It’s going to be a really, really, really physical match,” Few said. “UCLA plays really tough defense and keeps the score down. … It’s going to be a real physical challenge, just like the UConn game.” After a close loss against North Carolina State, they blew a huge lead in the second half and lost 76-74, before returning to the game. Tyler Bilodeau and Sebastian Mack had season highs of 26 and 22 points, respectively. The Bruins led by as many as 16 points after halftime, but could not overcome their field goal thirst for more than five minutes. UCLA coach Mick Cronin said late-game performance is an area of focus for the Bruins as they prepare for the second half of the regular season. The team’s defense is at an elite level, but the offense is questionable at times. “I’m still fighting to get this group back to where it was a few years ago,” Cronin said of UCLA’s lineup, which advanced to at least the Sweet 16 in three consecutive NCAA tournaments from 2021-2023. “It’s hard to find guys as smart as Tiger (Campbell) and Dave Singleton.” Two of those three postseasons ended in close losses to Gonzaga. After the most recent setback, UCLA is 1-2 when allowing 71 or more points. Opponents have allowed 58.4 points per game against the Bruins this season, seventh-best in the nation and third-best among powerhouse teams. Gonzaga enters Saturday’s contest scoring 89.3 points per game, the most in the nation. Six Bulldogs players are averaging double-digit points, led by big man Graham Ike at 15.5 points per game. Point guard Ryan Nembhard (11.8 points) leads the nation with 10.2 assists per game. Bilodeau leads UCLA with 15.1 points per game, followed by Eric Daley Jr. (10.8 points) and Mack (10.3 points). The Bruins boast two of the most effective perimeter defenders in creating turnovers, with Kobe Johnson and Skye Clark averaging 2.3 and 1.8 steals per game. Daley did not play a minute in the second half against North Carolina after being hit in the face in the first half. –Field level media
