By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
French guard Joel Ayayi will be this year’s European representative in the NCAA championship after Gonzaga’s 93 – 90 overtime win over UCLA in the second semifinal. Jalen Suggs handed Bulldogs the win with a buzzer beater from near the logo.
The miracle game-winning shot happened after Johnny Juzang tied the game at 90 with three seconds to play after an offensive rebound his own missed attempt. Suggs got the inbounds pass, ran the floor nd barely made it past half court to pull off the 3-point bucket that sent his team to the Final.
Ayayi finished the game with 22 points and six assists in 20 minutes while Suggs had 16 points plus five rebounds. Drew Timme led Gonzaga overall with 25 points.
Gonzaga’s Bulldogs advanced to the Final for the first time since 2017 and will try to win their second title after 2012. They will face the Baylor Bears that made the championship game by defeating the Houston Cougars behind Jared Butler’s 27 points.