Gonzaga, Connecticut clash in Elite Eight round of NCAA Tournament

Mar. 25—Halftime

Alex Karaban made a 3-pointer right before the buzzer to send Connecticut to a 39-32 point lead over Gonzaga at halftime.

Karaban leads the Huskies with 10 points, but Andre Jackson Jr. and Adama Sanogo have been the difference.

Jackson Jr. has eight points with five rebounds and five assists. Sanogo has six points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The Bulldogs shot 42% from the field, but only made 1 of 9 3-pointers in the half. They'll need better play from their guards to complete another second-half comeback.

First half

1:18 — UC 36, GU 29: Hawkins makes a 3-pointer after a scramble for a lose ball and the Zags call a timeout. Crucial end to the half here for GU, with Timme on the bench with two fouls.

3:55 — UC 28, GU 25: Lead changes a few times, but the Huskies stay in front on a 3-pointer at the U4 media timeout.

Strawther commits the Zags' fifth turnover on a miscommunication. Strawther leads GU with nine points.

7:53 — UC 19, GU 17: Neither team shooting well from the field, both about 38%.

Timme leads GU with seven points, while Strawther adds four. Sallis picked up a quick two fouls and went to the bench.

Hawkins has the game's only made 3-pointer. Both teams combined 1 of 13 from outside the arc.

11:38 — UC 15, GU 12: Timme called for a second travel, but the Zags pick up their offense and cut the deficit to three points at the U12 media timeout.

13:30 — UC 13, GU 8: Timme makes a pair of baskets, but is called for a travel at the first media timeout. Sanogo leads the Huskies with six points and three rebounds.

16:20 — UC 6, GU 2: Zags start 1 of 8 from the field, as Bolton misses a 3-pointer badly.

19:32 — UC 0, GU 0: Huskies miss their first attempt after winning the jump, and the Zags miss a pair inside, before Watson is called for a foul in transition.

Pregame — Tip time has been pushed back to 5:59 p.m. on TBS. Saturday's early game saw Florida Atlantic beat Kansas State 79-76 in Madison Square Garden.

The Owls advance to their first Final Four and will play tomorrow's winner of San Diego State and Creighton, which will also be the first Final Four for either team.

Pregame

One game from Houston.

Gonzaga and Connecticut meet in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament at the T-Mobile Arena tonight, with the winner advancing to the Final Four.

Tipoff is set for approximately 5:49 p.m., with the broadcast on TBS.

The third-seeded Bulldogs (31-5) are fresh off a thrilling 79-76 win over UCLA. The Zags came back from a double digit deficit for the second straight game and Julian Strawther made the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final seconds.

The fourth-seeded Huskies (28-8) rolled past Arkansas 88-65 in the Sweet 16 and pulled away from Saint Mary's 70-55 in the Round of 32, after trailing at halftime.

UConn swept its nonconference schedule, reaching the No. 2 in the Associated Press top 25. Things turned for the Huskies in Big East play, losing 5 of 6 in late December and January.

UConn recovered to finish fourth in the conference with a 13-7 Big East record and went on to lose to Marquette in the conference tournament championship.

Team stats

Individual leaders

Game preview

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