March Madness: Gonzaga defeats West Virginia to advance to Elite Eight

Dave DeLuca

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March Madness: Gonzaga defeats West Virginia to advance to Elite Eight image

Gonzaga's Jordan Matthews hit a 3-pointer with 52.9 seconds left that proved to be the game-winner that pushed the No. 1 Zags past No. 4 West Virginia, 61-58, in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in San Jose, CA. Gonzaga will play Xavier in the Elite Eight on Saturday.

West Virginia's Jevon Carter missed pair of potential game-tying 3-pointers in the closing seconds and the buzzer sounded before the Mountaineers could shoot a third attempt.

 

 

The Zags were once again led by a balanced scoring attack. Przemek Karnowski, Matthews and Johnathan Williams each scored 13 points. Nigel Williams-Goss had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Carter led West Virginia with 21 points, which included shooting 4 of 9 from three.

West Virginia vs. Gonzaga score, highlights

Here's Matthews' go-ahead 3-pointer that began by a block by Josh Perkins.

 

 

West Virginia doesn't just pressure opponents 75 feet from the basket, look at this rim protecting.

 

 

 

The matchup featured teams with differing styles. The Zags have a towering front line of 7-1 Przemek Karnowski, 7-footer Zach Collins and 6-10 Killian Tillie, while the Mountaineers have been nicknamed "Press Virginia" because of how suffocating guards Jevon Carter, Tarik Phillip and Daxter Miles Jr. can be on the fullcourt press.

Dave DeLuca

Dave DeLuca is an intern at Sporting News and a recent graduate of Buffalo State. He's a former intern and digital editor at The Buffalo News and executive editor of The Record, Buffalo State's student-run newspaper.