The No. 11 Gonzaga Bulldogs pulled off a thrilling 69-65 victory over UCLA in the Maui Invitational finale on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs were led by Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs, but it was Drew Watson who stole the show. Watson scored a career-high 32 points on 14-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three-point range.
Gonzaga got off to a hot start, taking a 14-point lead into halftime. UCLA fought back in the second half, cutting the lead to just one point late in the game. However, Watson was able to come up with some clutch shots down the stretch, helping the Bulldogs secure the win.
Watson’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. He was able to get to the rim at will and hit shots from all over the court. He also had four assists and two steals, showing his all-around game. His 32 points were the most by a Gonzaga player since Adam Morrison scored 33 in 2006.
Kispert also had a great game for the Bulldogs, scoring 17 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Suggs added 13 points and six assists, while Joel Ayayi chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds.
The win was a huge one for Gonzaga, as they have now beaten two top-25 teams in the Maui Invitational. They will now look to build on this momentum as they head into conference play.
UCLA was led by Johnny Juzang, who scored 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Tyger Campbell had 10 points and five assists.
Overall, it was an exciting game between two of college basketball’s top teams. Gonzaga was able to pull out the win thanks to Watson’s incredible performance, and they will now look to carry this momentum into conference play.
