Fox News Flash top sports headlines for March 23
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The first half looked like UCLA was going to coast to a trip to the Elite 8.
But they don’t call it March Madness for nothing.
The three-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs overcame the tremendous deficit, and not without stress at the end, to win an instant classic over No. 2 UCLA, 79-76.
The Bulldogs were down 46-33 at the half, but something was said in the locker room that made them look like a totally different team when everyone returned to the floor.
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Drew Timme #2, Anton Watson #22, Julian Strawther #0 and Malachi Smith #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs react after a timeout called during the second half against the UCLA Bruins in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 23, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Bulldogs fought all the way back (rather quickly) turning what seemed like an insurmountable deficit into, well, the same thing - just the other way around. The Bulldogs went on a 20-3 run at one point in the second half to lead by 10 with 2:30 to go.
But UCLA was not dead. They fought all the way back to trail by two with less than 35 seconds to go. After Drew Timme missed a pair of free throws, UCLA had a chance to win on the final shot.
They didn't save it for the last second, but Amari Bailey hit a three-pointer to put the Bruins back up one with 12.4 ticks to play.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 23: Anton Watson #22 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts to a play during the second half against the UCLA Bruins in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 23, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
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But the Bulldogs had a chance to save themselves one final time, and they cashed in - Julian Strawther answered back with a three of his own with 7.2 seconds left, and after UCLA turned the ball over, Strawther knocked another free throw to put Gonzaga up three. The Bruins' half-court heave at the buzzer bricked off the rim.
Timme may have slowed down toward the end, but for the first 30 minutes of the contest, he was nothing short of dominant. He netted 33 of Zaga’s first 56 points - he finished with 36 points and 13 rebounds.
Gonzaga bullied the Bruins on the glass, outrebounding them 50-26.
Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts after scoring against the UCLA Bruins during the second half in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 23, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
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Gonzaga will not face fourth-seeded UConn in the Elite 8 on Saturday in Las Vegas after the Huskies' dominant win over No. 8 Arkansas.