Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. UCLA Bruins: Live score updates, highlights from men’s college basketball game

The Zags have come out victorious in the four previous head-to-head meetings with the Bruins, including a 69-65 final in the Maui Invitational last season. Mark Few and company returned seven players who logged minutes in that game; Mick Cronin, meanwhile, retooled his roster by bringing in four new starters this offseason via the transfer portal.

Oregon State transfer Tyler Bilodeau headlines the group of newcomers. The 6-foot-9 junior from Kennewick, Washington, has put up a team-high 15.1 points per game through 12 contests this season. Bilodeau is coming off a career-high 26 points he recorded during UCLA’s 76-74 loss to North Carolina on Dec. 21. 

Graham Ike (15.5 points) and Braden Huff (12.7 points) are No. 1 and No. 2 respectively on the Zags in scoring. Four other players put up double-figures in scoring for Gonzaga, which ranks No. 1 in the country in points per game (89.2) and top five in offensive efficiency.

Here are the live updates:

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2ND HALF:

Gonzaga 51, UCLA 47 (7:27): Gonzaga forces another shot clock violation for UCLA’s 14th turnover of the afternoon. Emmanuel Innocenti provided a spark off the bench with a 3-pointer in the corner and some solid on-ball defense on the other end of the floor.

Gonzaga 45, UCLA 43 (10:48): The Bulldogs have started the second half 8-for-11 from the field and 4-for-5 from downtown — a stark contrast from their output in the first half. Ryan Nembhard has a lot to do with the offensive turnaround, as the senior guard has knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and dished out four assists this half.

Gonzaga 45, UCLA 43 (12:13): The 3s have started to fall for the Bulldogs, who took their first lead since the 7:30 mark in the first half after Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman connected on a pair of triples in transition to cap off an 8-0 scoring run. Graham Ike even got in on the 3-point barrage with a step-in jumper from the top of the arc. Ike is now 5-for-11 from deep this season.

UCLA 35, Gonzaga 32 (15:38): Ryan Nembhard connects on Gonzaga’s third 3-pointer of the afternoon to cut the deficit in half after the Bruins went back in front by eight points on back-to-back treys from Kobe Johnson. The Zags are just 3-for-12 from long distance and have only attempted one free throw thus far — one of those things will likely need to change if their to take the driver’s seat.

UCLA 30, Gonzaga 27 (17:38): Graham Ike continues to stifle Tyler Bilodeau on the offensive end of the floor. UCLA’s leading scorer has just three points on 1-for-7 from the floor and committed back-to-back turnovers to start the second half. Michael Ajayi was assessed a flagrant foul after knocking down Bilodeau with a high elbow.

HALFTIME — UCLA 27, Gonzaga 25: The Bruins had the Bulldogs on their heels for most of the first half until a late 9-0 run made it just a one-possession game at the halftime break. The late rally was quite a response from a Gonzaga team that had just lost Khalif Battle for the remainder of the game due to a flagrant 2 foul. The Zags tightened the clamps defensively, holding their opponent without a point for the final 4 minutes of the half after the Bruins had gone ahead by 11 points in the first half.

1ST HALF:

UCLA 27, Gonzaga 23 (0:46): A 7-0 scoring run before halftime is certainly one way to build some momentum after a rather slow first-half offensive for the Bulldogs. UCLA hasn’t scored in the last four minutes and change.

UCLA 27, Gonzaga 16 (3:32): Eric Dailey Jr. has an extra pep in his step following the scuffle, as the Oklahoma State transfer extended the Bruins’ lead to double-digits with a heads-up play on the offensive glass. Dailey Jr. leads UCLA at eight points; Graham Ike has nine for the Zags.

UCLA 24, Gonzaga 16 (4:13): Khalif Battle was ejected after the referees assessed a flagrant 2 foul to the sixth-year guard after he came down hard on UCLA’s Eric Dailey Jr. while trying to contest a layup.

UCLA 24, Gonzaga 13 (5:01): The Bulldogs are having trouble handling the Bruins’ pressure defense amid a 17-2 scoring run from Mick Cronin’s group. Gonzaga has nearly matched its season average in turnovers with nine already in the first half.

UCLA 13, Gonzaga 11 (7:03): The Bruins managed to put together a 6-0 scoring spurt off back-to-back 3-pointers from Lazar Stefanovic and Skyy Clark. Gonzaga came out of the under 12-minute timeout with more urgency to create movement on offense, opening up a score for Braden Huff, then a bucket for Graham Ike in transition.

Gonzaga 7, UCLA 7 (11:53): Ben Gregg has to hit the bench after picking up two fouls in a span of 40 seconds. UCLA hasn’t been efficient from the field to start but has kept things interesting with its toughness on the defensive end of the floor. The Zags are 3-for-10 from the field and have committed five turnovers so far.

Gonzaga 7, UCLA 3 (14:25): The Bulldogs came ready to match the Bruins’ physicality right out of the gate. Khalif Battle sparked the offense with a transition layup, followed moments later by a 3-pointer. UCLA started 1-for-8 from the field.

Pregame lineup update: Gonzaga’s Dusty Stromer is set to make his first start of the season. The Sherman Oaks, California, native is replacing Nolan Hickman in the starting lineup.

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