The Gonzaga Bulldogs gave everything they had on Saturday afternoon against a very talented Ohio St. Buckeyes team. Despite a strong performance from various players and a late rally that tied the game up with nearly four minutes left, the Bulldogs fell apart in the closing moments and ended up losing by a score of 73-66.
As fans, you should only be proud of the guys who laid it all on the line. It's one thing if a program goes out and embarrasses itself by not showing heart or effort; it's another if they go out swinging as a heavy underdog. Head coach Mark Few did a tremendous job with his players in 2011-12 and the team is set up well for the future.
Gary Bell, Jr. led his team with 18 and also dished out five assists and grabbed five rebounds. Elias Harris had 16 and seven rebounds, while freshman Kevin Pangos had a rough shooting day on his way to 10 points. Senior big man Robert Sacre played his final game as he battled foul trouble throughout, finishing with eight points and five rebounds.
The Zags shot 38.8% from the field, hit eight of their 24 3-point attempts, and went 14-for-19 from the charity stripe.
The Buckeyes just had too much talent on the floor. While only five players scored, four of them had 13 points or more. They were led by Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas, who both had 18 each, while sophomore point guard Aaron Craft had a double-double with 17 and 10 assists.
Ohio State will face the winner of Florida State and Cincinnati. Those two teams will face off on Sunday evening.
For more on the Bulldogs and to reflect on their season, head over to The Slipper Still Fits.