Unbeaten Zags Keep Rolling

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Gonzaga remains in line for an historic season after advancing in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.  The first overall seed continued its march toward perfection with a 83-65 rout of Creighton, putting the Bulldogs in the Elite Eight.  The Zags improved to 29-0, won their 33rd in a row since last season and extended their Division record of double-digit wins to 26.
Drew Timme scored 22 points and Andrew Nembhard had 17 with eight assists for Gonzaga.  The Bulldogs led 22-12 seven minutes in, carried a 43-33 lead into halftime and spent most of the second half pulling away.  Marcus Zegarowski finished with 19 points to lead the Bluejays.  Joining Gonzaga in the regional finals is fellow No. 1 seed Michigan, which had a surprisingly easy time knocking off No. 5 Florida State.  The Wolverines scored their first 30 points of the second half from close range and coasted to a 76-58 rout of the Seminoles. Hunter Dickinson scored 14 points and Franz Wagner had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Michigan.  The Wolverines improved to 23-4 and moved to the regional finals for the first time since 2018.  The Seminoles committed 10 of their 14 turnovers by halftime and shot 5-for-20 from 3-point range for the game. FSU didn’t hit the 20-point mark until the waning moments of the first half and went 24 minutes without nailing a 3-pointer.
UCLA still hasn’t lost since being relegated to the First Four round.  Jaime Jaquez Jr. hit two big jumpers early in overtime and finished with 17 points as the 11th-seeded Bruins downed No. 2 Alabama, 88-78. Jacquez and David Singleton took control in overtime after star guard Johnny Juzang fouled out. Singleton’s two free throws made it 79-70 with under a minute to go. The Bruins led by three until Alex Reese drained a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of regulation, giving the Crimson Tide new life.  UCLA is in the Elite for the first time since 2008 and will take on Michigan.  Sixth seed Southern Cal became the third Pac-12 team to reach the Elite Eight as the Trojans knocked off conference rival Oregon, 82-68.  Isaiah White scored 22 points and the Trojans shot 10 of 17 from 3-point range to reach the regional finals for the first time since 2001.  USC used an early 17-2 run to go up 14 before settling for a 41-26 halftime lead.  Tahj Eaddy finished with 20 points and Evan Mobley added 10 with six assists and eight rebounds.  Next up for the Trojans is another West Coast matchup at Indianapolis, this time against first overall seed Gonzaga.