UCLA Breaks Four-Game Skid Against Rival Gonzaga, 65-62

This rivalry always lives up to the hype and this version was as aggressive as it has ever come. Ryan Nembhard and Graham Ike tried to will the Zags to victory but it wasn’t enough against the Bruins.

In the first ever college basketball game played at the Intuit Dome, the biggest rivalry out on the West Coast continues to cause stress to all Gonzaga and UCLA fans alike.

This game was chippy throughout as these two programs don’t like each other at all. Due to the physicality, some questionable flagrant calls (and lack thereof at one specific point in the closing minutes) were made by the referee crew.

Ryan Nembhard had some early chemistry going with Khalif Battle (5 points on 2-4 FG/1-3 3PT in 13 minutes) in the backcourt, pushing the pace while looking for quick buckets. That was right before the Battle ejection where he wrapped his arms around Eric Dailey Jr.’s (18 points on 5-10 FG/4-5 3PT/4-6 3PT, 6 rebounds, 4 steals) neck. A dangerous decision and not a basketball play. The outcome of this game would have been much different if Battle was out there for the Zags.

The refs continued with a flagrant 1 call on Michael Ajayi on the swing through move which hit the chin of Tyler Bilodeau (7 points on 2-10 FG/1-4 3PT, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 turnovers) early in the second half. The most frustrating of the bunch had to be the no-call down the late stretch on the Sebastian Mack and-one drive where he clearly elbowed Emmanuel Innocenti in the face. Props to the Tarleton State transfer who has absolutely stepped up when his name has been called off the bench by coach Mark Few.

Regardless, Nembhard along with the help of Graham Ike (24 points on 11-16 FG, 8 rebounds, 4 turnovers) tried their best to push this team to a victory. The Bruins had no answer to stopping those two in the high pick-and-roll. Ike has especially played much more in control the last three games but more with an anger against UCLA that has been missing from the big man for quite a bit. You knew he was feeling himself when he hit that top of the key three-pointer in the second half.

Nembhard (16 points on 7-12 FG/2-4 3PT/0-1 FT, 8 assists, 2 turnovers) was fantastic all the way through up until the final minute of the game. Gonzaga wouldn’t have even gotten to that point if it wasn’t for the leadership from the undoubtedly best point guard in the country. With that being said, hitting the front rim on that free throw to tie the game up and the decision to pull up well beyond half court with four seconds left on the clock was brutal to watch. The 86.7% free throw shooter on the season was gassed and rattled after playing all 40 minutes.

The Zags struggled to take care of the ball in the first half with 11 turnovers, 15 total in the loss. Everyone was well aware just how tenacious coach Mick Cronin’s Bruins were going to be on the defensive end coming into the matchup.

Gonzaga couldn’t stay consistently hitting from deep while going 7-24 3PT (29.2%). Even with Dusty Stromer (0 points on 0-2 3PT in 30 minutes) being pushed into the starting lineup in place of Nolan Hickman (6 points on 2-6 3PT in 31 minutes), he was a no show.

Michael Ajayi (0 points on 0-2 FG in 20 minutes) also struggled to make an offensive impact as he has for most of the season, only putting up 10+ points twice so far.

Losing four key games on a neutral court to West Virginia (8 points in overtime), Kentucky (1 point in overtime), UConn (6 points), and UCLA (3 points) in that close of fashion isn’t some random occurrence. This team is missing the clutch factor, someone to put these games to bed. Few needs an answer when March rolls around.

The Zags fall to a 9-4 overall record, 2-4 in Quad 1 games as the non-conference comes to a close. West Coast Conference tips-off on Monday, December 30th at Pepperdine in Malibu at 7 PM PT on ESPN+.

At this exact moment in the NET rankings, the remaining Quad 1 opportunities in WCC play for Gonzaga (#5) are at Oregon State (#51), at Saint Mary’s (#56), and at Washington State (#68). That’s subject to change with USF at #59 (Zags play the Dons in a neutral location at the Chase Center, needs to be ranked #50 or better for a Quad 1 win) and Santa Clara at #76 (needs to be at least ranked #75 for a road victory to be considered Quad 1).

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho