Matchup: UCLA Bruins vs Gonzaga Bulldogs
Scheduled Date: Saturday, December 28, 2024
Venue: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Broadcast: FOX
The UCLA Bruins (10-2) will take to the court at Intuit Dome this Saturday, looking to secure a victory against the Gonzaga Bulldogs (9-3).
In their previous outing, the UCLA Bruins faced off against North Carolina, suffering a narrow defeat with a score of 76-74. In terms of fouls, UCLA accumulated 25, while North Carolina had 22. The Bruins managed to hit 8 of their 23 attempts from three-point range. At the free-throw line, North Carolina made 24 of 35 attempts, achieving a 68.6% success rate. In rebounding, North Carolina secured 30 rebounds (6 offensive, 24 defensive) without recording any blocks. They also registered 11 assists and 4 steals. Defensively, UCLA allowed a field goal percentage of 46.8%, giving up 22 baskets out of 47 attempts. They had 17 assists, forced 18 turnovers, and totaled 10 steals. On the boards, UCLA gathered 28 rebounds, including 7 offensive rebounds. At the charity stripe, they converted 13 of 22 attempts, achieving a 59.1% free-throw percentage. Overall, UCLA finished the game with a field goal percentage of 49.1% (26 of 53) and made 9 of 18 shots from beyond the arc.
Tyler Bilodeau emerged as a key player in this matchup, scoring 26 points from the field on 9 of 14 shooting, playing 24 minutes, and grabbing 3 rebounds. His shooting efficiency was 64.3%, and he dished out 1 assist.
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Entering this contest, UCLA boasts a record of 10-2 for the season, averaging 78.4 points per game (116th in the nation) while shooting 48.2% from the floor. The Bruins have a three-point shooting percentage of 35.8% (87 of 243) and a free-throw success rate of 68.5%. Additionally, they average 34.4 rebounds per game and have accumulated 200 assists this season, ranking 80th in the nation for assists. Possession is surrendered via turnovers at a rate of 11.3 per game, and they commit an average of 18.0 personal fouls.
Defensively, the Bruins force 18.4 turnovers per game and attract 19.3 personal fouls. They rank 75th in college basketball, allowing 139 assists to opponents this year. UCLA’s defensive unit permits a field goal percentage of 39.6% (237 of 599) and averages 30.9 rebounds per game, while conceding a three-point shooting percentage of 29.6%. They also rank 7th nationally in points allowed per game, giving up just 58.4 points.
In their last performance, the Gonzaga Bulldogs triumphed over Bucknell with a commanding score of 86-65. The Bulldogs secured 29 defensive boards and 10 offensive rebounds, totaling 39 for the game. They recorded 12 turnovers while snagging 11 steals. Bucknell committed 10 fouls, allowing Gonzaga 9 free-throw attempts, of which they converted 6 for a 66.7% success rate. From beyond the arc, Gonzaga made 12 out of 35 attempts (34.3%). Overall, they shot 34 out of 71 from the field, resulting in a 47.9% shooting percentage. Bucknell, meanwhile, made 24 of 59 attempts for 40.7%. Gonzaga allowed their opponents to hit 10 of 31 three-point attempts, finishing with a free-throw percentage of 70.0% from 7 of 10 attempts. Defensively, Gonzaga allowed Bucknell to gather a total of 27 rebounds (4 offensive).
Graham Ike proved instrumental for the Bulldogs, shooting 11 out of 15 from the field for an impressive 73.3% accuracy. He recorded 25 points and 10 rebounds in just 20 minutes, along with 1 assist.
Gonzaga stands at 9-3 this season. Offensively, they boast a shooting percentage of 49.5% from the field, ranking 30th nationally. The Bulldogs have tallied 1,071 points this season, averaging 89.3 points per game, while securing 40.9 rebounds per contest. They lead with 19.4 assists per game (6th in college basketball) and showcase low turnover numbers at 9.8 per game. Their average fouls sit at 16.5 per game, and they convert 81.2% of their free-throw attempts.
Defensively, Gonzaga ranks 137th in the nation, allowing an average of 69.4 points per game. They force an average of 12.8 turnovers each game and permit opponents to shoot 40.8% from the field (81st in college). The defense allows just 25.9% shooting from beyond the arc (78 of 301), while opponents convert 75.6% of their free-throw attempts. Gonzaga also gives up an average of 11.8 assists and 32.4 rebounds per game, ranking 101st and 87th in those categories, respectively.
Free Prediction: Bet on UCLA (+4.0)
