It was billed as the best game in men's college basketball to date and it did not disappoint. The #3 Gonzaga Bulldogs win three straight games and are crowned the 2k18 Maui Invitational Champs and the road couldn't have been any tougher than this one.
The "Zags" slide past the favorite the Duke Blue Devils as it took all able bodies for Gonzaga and 110% effort from the tip to the red light at the end for this one. The Bulldogs leading 47-39 at the break but not after Duke Freshman PG Tre Jones hits a money ball right at the buzzer moving the Blue Devils deficit from 47-36 to 47-39.
The "Zags" controlled the entire 2nd half from start to finish as the Dukies came roaring back as the game got closer. It was "Zags" PF Rui Hachimura (20 pts 7 rebs 5 asst 3 blks pictured left), Zach Norvell Jr. (18 pts 4-7 3pt FG) and the athleticism of Brandon Clarke (17 pts 5 rebs 6 blks) that propelled Gonzaga past Duke.
The play in the painted area from both Hachimura and Clarke was huge as they combined to block nine shots by Duke. Yes both R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson had their "Flushes" but they were challenged at every single turn in this one.
Barrett had a game-high 23 pts (9-25 FG) and seven boards with Williamson (22 pts 10 rebs 4 blks) with some amazing come from behind blocks on Gonzaga. It came down to Duke's inability in the end of the game to convert easy attempts let alone makes. Jones chipped in with 17 points and Cam Reddish 10 points as I thought Duke could have used Reddish way more down the stretch especially that last shot attempt.
"Zags" now leave Maui at 6-0 and Duke falls to 5-1 as they are both battle-tested and its not even December 2k18...
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