Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs head to Seattle to take on Mick Cronin and the UCLA Bruins on Saturday evening in one of the few remaining marquee non-conference games for either team.
Gonzaga will look to not only avenge last year’s agonizing 65-62 loss to UCLA at the Intuit Dome but also to end the curse of Climate Pledge Arena. The Bulldogs are currently 0-3 at the building formerly known as Key Arena since it was reopened as Climate Pledge in 2021. They lost to Alabama in 2021, UConn in 2023, and Kentucky last year despite holding an 18-point lead in the second half.
The history between Gonzaga and UCLA makes this one of the most exciting non-conference rivalries in all of college basketball. A trio of electric NCAA Tournament matchups are among the most memorable games of the past 20 years: Adam Morrison’s infamous on-court tears in 2006, Jalen Suggs’ 37-foot buzzer-beating three-pointer that sent Gonzaga to the national title game in 2021, and Julian Strawther’s game-winning triple in 2023 that put the Zags in the Elite Eight.
While this year’s game won’t have the same stakes as a late-March battle, it still means a lot to both teams. Gonzaga is looking to pick up a third win over a ranked opponent this year, having already defeated Creighton and Alabama. This will be Coach Few’s final marquee non-conference matchup, with the Oregon Ducks—whom the Zags face in Portland on Dec. 21—struggling to open up their campaign.
Meanwhile, UCLA only has two wins over high-major opponents this season, both coming in the first week of Pac-12 conference play against Washington and Oregon. The Bruins lost a close one to Arizona and blew a big lead against Cal in San Francisco, putting them at 7-2 heading into Saturday’s tilt.
UCLA boasts a strong outside shooting team and plenty of size down low. Tyler Bilodeau leads the Bruins with 15.4 points per game. The 6’9″ forward has significant versatility as a shooter, scorer, and offensive hub. Michigan State transfer Xavier Booker leads the team with 1.6 blocks per game and will likely be tasked with slowing down the freight train that is Gonzaga’s Graham Ike—assuming Ike is healthy and ready to play after sitting out against North Florida with a nagging ankle injury.
For Gonzaga to leave Seattle with a win, they will need to dominate the battle on the offensive glass and control the tempo throughout the game.
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**How to Watch Gonzaga vs. UCLA**
– **Date:** Saturday, Dec. 13
– **Game Time:** 8:30 p.m. PT
– **Location:** Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle, WA)
– **Broadcast:** ESPN
Don’t miss this exciting Battle in Seattle as two college basketball powers face off in a key early-season matchup.
https://www.si.com/college/gonzaga/basketball/how-to-watch-listen-to-gonzaga-vs-ucla-battle-in-seattle
