PS: Gonzaga 65, W Virginia 62
Gonzaga guard Jordan Mathews (4) is double teamed by West Virginia forward Lamont West (15) and West Virginia forward Esa Ahmad (23) during the first half an NCAA Sweet Sixteen game today. Mathews returned in the second half to hit three 3's, including the final one with a minute left to lead Gonzaga to a hard-earned 65-62 victor over West Virginia and a berth in the Elite Eight Saturday. (Colin Mulvany, SR photo)
SAN JOSE, Calif. – In a messy game dictated by fouls and defense, it was defense that won the game for Gonzaga and sent the top-seeded Bulldogs to the Elite Eight after a 61-58 victory over fourth-seeded West Virginia.
The Mountaineers’ leading scorer, Jevon Carter, had hit four of WVU’s five 3-pointers heading into the game’s final possession. But Nigel Williams-Goss forced him into two bad looks. WVU got the offensive rebound after both misses, but were unable to get off a third shot.
Williams-Goss, Jordan Mathews and Johnathan Williams each led the Bulldogs with 13 points apiece. GU struggled at the free throw line, making just 21-of-32 attempts, which proved nearly fatal in a game that saw the officials call 51 fouls/Jacob Thorpe, SR. More here.