Hey, hey, hey, GOODBYE. The 11 seeded UCLA upset #1 seeded Michigan. UCLA will advance to the final four. They are the first, First Four team to advance to the Final Four since VCU in 2011. The UCLA Bruins will advance to their first Final Four since 2008.
The game started out with the teams trading baskets, then with 10:48 to go in the half, Michigan’s Chaundee Brown made a Three Point Jumper to give Michigan a 11-4 lead. But, UCLA wasn’t going to let things get out of hand., Cody Riley hit Johnny Juzang for 2. The teams then traded baskets until Johnny Juzang put UCLA within one. That score didn’t last long though, Cody Riley fouled Eli Brooks, who put away his two Free Throws. Thirty seconds later UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. stole the ball from Chaundee Brown and hit a streaking Johnny Juzang for the Layup who, once again put UCLA within one. The teams then went into a 2 minute scoring drought that ended when Franz Wagner from Michigan fouled Jaime Jaquez Jr. who gave UCLA it’s first lead since 16:08 when he made it 4-2. The teams traded more baskets, with Michigan’s Brandon Johns Jr. and UCLA’s Johnny Juzang scoring the majority of those. Although, it was Tyger Campbell who made the Three Pointer at the end of the streak to give UCLA a 4 point, 27-23 lead. Then, with a second left in the first half, Tyger Campbell fouled Mike Smith, who, luckily for Campbell, missed both his Free Throws. That is how the first half came to an end.
Tyger made up for his fouls, putting home the first basket of the second half. Franz Wanger then hit Hunter Dickinson for the Layup to put Michigan within 4. But, Tyger Campbell went the other way and made the Jumper for 2. Thirty seconds later, Michigan’s Eli Brooks fouled Johnny Juzang, who was awarded 3 Free Throws. Juzang sunk all three of them, giving UCLA a nine point lead. Hunter Dickinson and Michigan weren’t going to let UCLA run away with the W though, he scored twice, both assisted by Eli Brooks, to cut UCLA’s lead down to 4. After the two assists, Brooks wanted some of his own points, making two Layups, putting Michigan down by only one. Cody Riley was done playing around- he put UCLA up by 5 after two Layups. Austin Davis, then came off of Michigan’s bench and put them within 2 after a Free Throw and a Layup. Johnny Juzang then responded 10 seconds later putting UCLA up by 4 once again. Michigan then had 4 high quality chances, but only managed to put away one of them, from Chaundee Brown’s Layup with 10 minutes remaining in the ball game. The defenses held strong with each time only scoring 4 times in 8 minutes. But, the bad news for UCLA was that 2 out of Michigan’s 4 baskets were successful Three Pointers and with 8 minutes to go, Michigan was only down one, in a game in which UCLA had controlled. With just one minute to go, Johnny Juzang cushioned UCLA’s lead to 50-47. But the lead didn’t stay like that for long, Cody Riley fouled Franz Wagner resulting in 2 successful Free Throws for Wagner. The lead was back to one for UCLA. UCLA then called timeout and set up a play for a Three Pointer Jumper by Jaime Jaquez Jr. He missed it and Michigan’s Chaundee Brown controlled the ball and Michigan’s Final Four dreams. All they had to do was sink a basket to win. Michigan’s Coaching Staff called timeout and set up a play to do something other than that; they were playing to win in regulation. Juwan Howard set a play for Franz Wagner to give Michigan the lead on a Three Pointer, but the ball never found the hoop. Eli Brooks then secured the rebounder and went for a Layup of his own, but couldn’t find the hoop. The ball then trickled down to Jules Bernard who ended up being fouled three times. That set up Johnny Juzang to bury one of the two Free Throws. Giving UCLA a 51-49 lead. Michigan then secured the rebound of the second shot and Coach Howard called timeout. Out of the timeout, Mike Smith brought the ball down and pulled up at the Three Point and let one go that just missed but hit off of UCLA and out of play. Michigan had one last chance with Hunter Dickinson with the ball trying to put it in. He gave it to Franz Wagner at the Three Point line and he let it go as the buzzer sounded. The ball split through the air, hit the glass, and finally arrived at the rim and…. didn’t go! UCLA advances to the Final Four! UCLA will go to battle with the undefeated Gonzaga on Saturday at 8:30pm ET. The game will be on CBS.
