Top-ranked Gonzaga beats No. 2 UCLA

It was a special Tuesday night for college basketball yesterday, with the top-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs taking down the No. 2 UCLA Bruins 83-63 in a rematch of a 2021 Final Four thriller.

However, unlike April’s overtime spectacle, Gonzaga dominated this edition from start to finish, setting the tone by shooting a blistering 15-of-26 (57.7%) over the first 20 minutes to take a 45-25 lead into the halftime break. Freshman phenom and potential No. 1 pick Chet Holmgren was excellent (15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, 4 blocks), and guard Andrew Nembhard (24 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds) made his presence felt against UCLA’s highly decorated backcourt.

The win effectively silenced any lingering doubts about whether the Zags are the game’s team to beat in 2021-22, and the implications should ripple well beyond November.