By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Gonzaga Bulldogs rolled over No. 3 Utah on Saturday, 82-59 behind 22 points from Eric McClellan and a 19-point, 10-rebound effort from Domantas Sabonis, getting the ticket to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA final tournament.
It was an All-Euro center duel with Lithuanian Sabonis dominating the big man of Utes, Austrian Jakob Poeltl, a projected lottery pick in the upcoming draft.
The 23-point win tied the third-largest by a team seeded 11th or lower since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Poeltl finished with five points and four rebounds. He got in foul trouble early, drawing his first when Sabonis spun to the baseline and left Poeltl grabbing to prevent the dunk.
“He’s an incredible player,” Poeltl said. “He made some really good plays today. It’s his versatility that makes him so tough to guard.”
On Utah’s first possession of the second half, Poeltl posted up and tried the hook. Sabonis redirected it and the ball never got to the glass. The son of former NBA star Arvydas Sabonis recorded his 22nd double-double of the season.