No. 3 Gonzaga holds off top-ranked Duke 89-87 for Maui title
AP
Nov 21, 2018
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) Gonzaga Bulldogs found itself in the same position as Duke Blue Devils's first five opponents: appearing helpless as the Blue Devils and their rim-rattling freshmen ran past and flew over them.
The Zags never panicked, never looked up in awe at the bouncy Blue Devils. They have too much experience to get rattled, even against college basketball's most talked-about team.
Playing with poise and grit down the stretch, No. 3 Gonzaga turned back top-ranked Duke's late-game charge to win the Maui Invitational title game 89-97 on Wednesday.
''Experience plays a big role in this,'' said Gonzaga guard Zach Norvell Jr., who had 18 points. ''We came down the stretch and got some stops. We knew we were winning it on the defensive end.''
Gonzaga (6-0) put on an offensive show in the first half and battened down on defense after Duke made a second-half charge, blocking four shots in the final 46 seconds to win its second Maui title.
Rui Hachimura scored 20 points and the Zags beat a No. 1 team for the first time while ending the Blue Devils' unbeaten streak on the Valley Isle (17-1).
Dubbed a Final Four contender when Killie Tillie returns, Gonzaga already looks like one - even with one of their best players on the bench in a walking boot.
''The lights were on us tonight and we played good, which you have to against Duke,'' Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. ''You have to pretty much play great. I thought we played great.''
Five-time Maui champion Duke (5-1) made it look easy the season's first five games, its fantastic freshmen soaring through the spotlight, not cowering away from it while looking all but unbeatable.
The experienced Zags gave them a lesson in ball movement, orchestrating a master class in free-flowing, position-less basketball while building a 14-point first-half lead.
Duke's Maui run, done.
Well, not just yet.
The Blue Devils fell behind by 16 in the second half before firing up the Blue Devil express with a series of head-above-the-rim dunks and drives.
Taking advantage of Gonzaga big man Brandon Clarke's fourth foul, Duke pulled within a basket as Blue Devils fans sent an earthquake of noise off the rafters of tiny Lahaina Civic Center.
Hachimura put Gonzaga up 89-87 with a strong move at the basket with 75 seconds left, but the Zags kept giving Duke chances by missing four free throws. Clarke clanked two with 30 seconds left and Hachimura came up empty on two more with 10 seconds left.
Gonzaga's defense made up for it.
Hachimuru and Clarke each had two blocked shots in the final minute, capped by Clarke's swat of R.J. Barrett's driving attempt at the buzzer.
A seated Barrett raised his arms, wondering why no foul was called. The Zags leaped in celebration after a game with a Final Four feel packaged in a small-town rec center.
Barrett had 23 points and Zion Williamson scored 22 for the suddenly humbled Blue Devils.
''We finally started to fight in the last 14 minutes, whereas before we had just come to play and we weren't as emotionally ready as Gonzaga,'' said Duke's Javin DeLaurier, who had six points and six rebounds.
This was the game everyone expected when the Maui Invitational got another marquee title game between the what-will-they-do-next Blue Devils against the electrically efficient Zags.
Duke and its future lottery picks steamrolled San Diego State and outlasted No. 8 Auburn to reach its sixth Maui title game in six years. Gonzaga survived Illinois' frenetic attack and put on a second-half show to beat Arizona in the semifinals.
The Blue Devils ran roughshod over one top-5 team to open the season, making then-No. 2 Kentucky look like a JV team.
The Zags not only didn't back down, they threw the first punch.
Forcing Duke defenders through one ball screen after another, Gonzaga played the position-less basketball game better than the Blue Devils. The Zags all but took Duke big man Marques Bolden, who had seven blocked shots in the semifinals, out of the game with their ball movement and created numerous open looks for themselves.
''They were just dictating the flow,'' Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. ''I mean we were not playing good defense, but they were playing great offense.''
When Clarke went to the bench with his fourth foul midway through the second half, Gonzaga went into a stall. Duke put together a run, a sixth Maui title within reach.
The Zags swatted Duke's bid away.
---
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1st Half
DUKE
Blue Devils
39
GONZ
Bulldogs
47
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Duke
19:38
Cam Reddish missed layup
19:36
Defensive rebound by Corey Kispert
19:32
Corey Kispert missed layup
19:30
Defensive rebound by Marques Bolden
19:22
Zion Williamson missed layup
19:20
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
19:20
Zion Williamson missed layup
19:18
Offensive rebound by Marques Bolden
19:14
Marques Bolden missed layup
19:12
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
19:12
+2
Zion Williamson made layup
2-0
18:56
+3
Rui Hachimura made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Josh Perkins
2-3
18:47
Bad pass turnover on Cam Reddish, stolen by Corey Kispert
18:32
Bad pass turnover on Zach Norvell Jr.
18:32
Cam Reddish missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:30
Defensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
18:20
+3
Brandon Clarke made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Rui Hachimura
2-6
18:04
+2
Zion Williamson made jump shot
4-6
17:51
Lost ball turnover on Rui Hachimura
17:41
RJ Barrett missed layup
17:41
Offensive rebound by Cam Reddish
17:41
Personal foul on Josh Perkins
17:28
Cam Reddish missed layup
17:26
Offensive rebound by Duke
17:15
+2
Marques Bolden made dunk, assist by RJ Barrett
6-6
17:03
+2
Corey Kispert made jump shot
6-8
16:45
+2
Tre Jones made jump shot
8-8
16:30
Personal foul on Marques Bolden
16:24
+2
Rui Hachimura made jump shot
8-10
16:13
Zion Williamson missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke
16:11
Defensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
16:05
Zach Norvell Jr. missed jump shot
16:05
Offensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
16:05
+2
Brandon Clarke made dunk
8-12
15:55
+2
RJ Barrett made layup
10-12
15:36
Corey Kispert missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:34
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
15:28
Tre Jones missed jump shot
15:26
Offensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
15:25
Traveling violation turnover on Javin DeLaurier
15:07
Josh Perkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:05
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
14:48
Lost ball turnover on Zion Williamson, stolen by Josh Perkins
14:39
+3
Zach Norvell Jr. made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Rui Hachimura
10-15
14:19
+3
Jack White made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tre Jones
13-15
13:54
+2
Brandon Clarke made layup, assist by Zach Norvell Jr.
13-17
13:42
RJ Barrett missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:40
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
13:37
+2
Zion Williamson made layup
15-17
13:12
Lost ball turnover on Josh Perkins, stolen by Tre Jones
13:08
Tre Jones missed dunk
13:06
Defensive rebound by Josh Perkins
12:59
+2
Brandon Clarke made layup
15-19
12:42
Personal foul on Corey Kispert
12:35
+2
RJ Barrett made jump shot
17-19
12:20
Filip Petrusev missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:18
Defensive rebound by Cam Reddish
12:08
Shooting foul on Rui Hachimura
12:08
RJ Barrett missed 1st of 2 free throws
11:57
+3
Zach Norvell Jr. made 3-pt. jump shot
17-22
12:08
+1
RJ Barrett made 2nd of 2 free throws
18-19
11:57
+3
Zach Norvell Jr. made 3-pt. jump shot
18-22
11:39
Personal foul on Brandon Clarke
11:37
+2
Marques Bolden made dunk, assist by Tre Jones
20-22
11:27
Geno Crandall missed jump shot
11:25
Defensive rebound by Jack White
11:03
Lost ball turnover on Tre Jones, stolen by Zach Norvell Jr.
11:03
Personal foul on Tre Jones
10:54
Lost ball turnover on Brandon Clarke, stolen by RJ Barrett
10:46
Shooting foul on Geno Crandall
10:46
+1
RJ Barrett made 1st of 2 free throws
21-22
10:46
RJ Barrett missed 2nd of 2 free throws
10:46
Defensive rebound by Jeremy Jones
10:26
+2
Filip Petrusev made dunk, assist by Josh Perkins
21-24
10:09
Lost ball turnover on Zion Williamson
9:50
Josh Perkins missed jump shot
9:48
Offensive rebound by Jeremy Jones
9:40
Traveling violation turnover on Brandon Clarke
9:17
Shooting foul on Jeremy Jones
9:17
+1
Cam Reddish made 1st of 2 free throws
22-24
9:17
+1
Cam Reddish made 2nd of 2 free throws
23-24
9:00
+2
Rui Hachimura made jump shot
23-26
8:39
+2
Zion Williamson made layup
25-26
8:18
+3
Filip Petrusev made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Josh Perkins
25-29
7:50
RJ Barrett missed jump shot
7:48
Defensive rebound by Geno Crandall
7:34
+2
Geno Crandall made layup
25-31
7:34
Shooting foul on Cam Reddish
7:34
Geno Crandall missed free throw
7:34
Defensive rebound by Marques Bolden
7:12
+2
Tre Jones made jump shot, assist by Jack White
27-31
6:47
+2
Rui Hachimura made layup
27-33
6:47
Shooting foul on Marques Bolden
6:47
+1
Rui Hachimura made free throw
27-34
6:21
Personal foul on Corey Kispert
6:21
+1
Zion Williamson made 1st of 2 free throws
28-34
6:21
+1
Zion Williamson made 2nd of 2 free throws
29-34
6:00
+2
Filip Petrusev made layup
29-36
5:33
Zion Williamson missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:31
Defensive rebound by Filip Petrusev
5:21
+2
Zach Norvell Jr. made layup, assist by Josh Perkins
29-38
5:06
+2
RJ Barrett made layup
31-38
4:52
+2
Zach Norvell Jr. made layup
31-40
4:26
RJ Barrett missed layup
4:24
Defensive rebound by Jeremy Jones
4:16
Personal foul on Jack White
4:13
+2
Rui Hachimura made jump shot
31-42
3:59
Cam Reddish missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:57
Defensive rebound by Gonzaga
3:42
Zach Norvell Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:40
Defensive rebound by Zion Williamson
3:28
+2
Tre Jones made layup
33-42
3:17
Personal foul on Jack White
2:53
Rui Hachimura missed jump shot
2:51
Defensive rebound by RJ Barrett
2:48
Bad pass turnover on RJ Barrett
2:35
+3
Jeremy Jones made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Josh Perkins
33-45
2:17
RJ Barrett missed layup
2:15
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
2:15
Zion Williamson missed layup
2:13
Defensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
2:04
Brandon Clarke missed layup, blocked by Zion Williamson
2:02
Defensive rebound by Marques Bolden
1:55
Tre Jones missed layup
1:53
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
1:45
Zach Norvell Jr. missed jump shot
1:43
Offensive rebound by Josh Perkins
1:25
+2
Josh Perkins made jump shot
33-47
1:25
+3
RJ Barrett made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tre Jones
36-47
44.0
Offensive foul on Brandon Clarke
44.0
Turnover on Brandon Clarke
38.0
Cam Reddish missed jump shot
36.0
Defensive rebound by Gonzaga
4.0
Shot clock violation turnover on Gonzaga
1.0
+3
Tre Jones made 3-pt. jump shot
39-47
2nd Half
DUKE
Blue Devils
48
GONZ
Bulldogs
42
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:51
+2
Brandon Clarke made dunk, assist by Rui Hachimura
39-49
19:36
Zion Williamson missed jump shot
19:34
Defensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
19:16
+3
Zach Norvell Jr. made 3-pt. jump shot
39-52
18:58
RJ Barrett missed jump shot
18:56
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
18:38
Bad pass turnover on Josh Perkins, stolen by Zion Williamson
18:38
Personal foul on Brandon Clarke
18:29
Cam Reddish missed jump shot
18:27
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
18:27
Zion Williamson missed dunk
18:25
Defensive rebound by Corey Kispert
18:15
+3
Corey Kispert made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Josh Perkins
39-55
18:01
+2
Cam Reddish made layup
41-55
17:37
+2
Rui Hachimura made jump shot, assist by Filip Petrusev
41-57
17:17
RJ Barrett missed layup, blocked by Filip Petrusev
17:15
Offensive rebound by RJ Barrett
17:10
+2
RJ Barrett made layup
43-57
16:59
+2
Josh Perkins made jump shot
43-59
16:42
Tre Jones missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:40
Offensive rebound by Marques Bolden
16:36
Shooting foul on Rui Hachimura
16.0
+1
Marques Bolden made 1st of 2 free throws
44-59
16:36
+1
Marques Bolden made 2nd of 2 free throws
45-59
16:15
+2
Filip Petrusev made layup, assist by Corey Kispert
45-61
16:03
Lost ball turnover on Cam Reddish, stolen by Zach Norvell Jr.
15:56
Zach Norvell Jr. missed layup, blocked by Zion Williamson
15:54
Defensive rebound by Tre Jones
15:50
+2
Tre Jones made layup
47-61
15:44
Bad pass turnover on Corey Kispert, stolen by Tre Jones
15:44
Shooting foul on Corey Kispert
15:44
+1
Tre Jones made 1st of 2 free throws
48-61
15:44
+1
Tre Jones made 2nd of 2 free throws
49-61
15:22
Rui Hachimura missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:20
Offensive rebound by Filip Petrusev
15:14
Shot clock violation turnover on Gonzaga
15:07
+2
Zion Williamson made jump shot
51-61
14:44
Zach Norvell Jr. missed layup
14:42
Offensive rebound by Filip Petrusev
14:40
Filip Petrusev missed layup
14:38
Offensive rebound by Filip Petrusev
14:37
+2
Filip Petrusev made layup
51-63
14:22
Shooting foul on Josh Perkins
14:21
RJ Barrett missed jump shot
14:19
Defensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
14:10
Geno Crandall missed jump shot
14:08
Defensive rebound by Zion Williamson
14:04
+2
RJ Barrett made layup, assist by Zion Williamson
53-63
14:04
Shooting foul on Zach Norvell Jr.
14:05
+1
RJ Barrett made free throw
54-63
13:58
+2
Brandon Clarke made dunk, assist by Josh Perkins
54-65
13:44
RJ Barrett missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke
13:42
Offensive rebound by Duke
13:37
Tre Jones missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke
13:35
Offensive rebound by Duke
13:30
Traveling violation turnover on Tre Jones
13:13
Personal foul on Zion Williamson
13:06
Geno Crandall missed layup, blocked by Zion Williamson
13:04
Defensive rebound by RJ Barrett
12:57
Alex O'Connell missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:55
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
12:55
Zion Williamson missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke
12:53
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
12:47
+3
Josh Perkins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Rui Hachimura
54-68
12:33
Shooting foul on Brandon Clarke
12:33
+1
Zion Williamson made 1st of 2 free throws
55-68
12:33
+1
Zion Williamson made 2nd of 2 free throws
56-68
12:11
Jeremy Jones missed layup, blocked by Javin DeLaurier
12:09
Offensive rebound by Jeremy Jones
12:09
+2
Jeremy Jones made layup
56-70
11:51
+3
Cam Reddish made 3-pt. jump shot
59-70
11:37
Rui Hachimura missed jump shot
11:35
Defensive rebound by Jack White
11:25
Shooting foul on Jeremy Jones
11:25
Javin DeLaurier missed 1st of 2 free throws
11:25
+1
Javin DeLaurier made 2nd of 2 free throws
60-70
11:06
+3
Zach Norvell Jr. made 3-pt. jump shot
60-73
10:49
Lost ball turnover on Cam Reddish, stolen by Zach Norvell Jr.
10:39
Shooting foul on Cam Reddish
10:39
+1
Rui Hachimura made 1st of 2 free throws
60-74
10:39
+1
Rui Hachimura made 2nd of 2 free throws
60-75
10:27
+3
Cam Reddish made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by RJ Barrett
63-75
10:00
Rui Hachimura missed jump shot
9:58
Defensive rebound by RJ Barrett
9:57
Personal foul on Zach Norvell Jr.
9:57
+1
RJ Barrett made 1st of 2 free throws
64-75
9:57
RJ Barrett missed 2nd of 2 free throws
9:57
Defensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
9:47
Personal foul on Tre Jones
9:33
Geno Crandall missed jump shot
9:31
Defensive rebound by RJ Barrett
9:15
Traveling violation turnover on Cam Reddish
8:54
Zach Norvell Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:52
Offensive rebound by Gonzaga
8:38
Shooting foul on Cam Reddish
8:38
+1
Rui Hachimura made 1st of 2 free throws
64-76
8:38
+1
Rui Hachimura made 2nd of 2 free throws
64-77
8:24
RJ Barrett missed layup
8:22
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
8:17
Shooting foul on Cam Reddish
8:17
Rui Hachimura missed 1st of 2 free throws
8:17
Rui Hachimura missed 2nd of 2 free throws
8:17
Defensive rebound by RJ Barrett
8:09
Personal foul on Rui Hachimura
8:09
+1
Zion Williamson made 1st of 2 free throws
65-77
8:09
+1
Zion Williamson made 2nd of 2 free throws
66-77
7:46
Rui Hachimura missed jump shot, blocked by RJ Barrett
7:44
Offensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
7:45
Personal foul on Javin DeLaurier
7:39
Rui Hachimura missed jump shot
7:37
Offensive rebound by Corey Kispert
7:37
+2
Corey Kispert made layup
66-79
7:20
Personal foul on Corey Kispert
7:20
+1
Javin DeLaurier made 1st of 2 free throws
67-79
7:20
+1
Javin DeLaurier made 2nd of 2 free throws
68-79
7:06
Geno Crandall missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:04
Defensive rebound by RJ Barrett
6:58
+2
RJ Barrett made dunk
70-79
6:40
Zach Norvell Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:38
Offensive rebound by Josh Perkins
6:36
Personal foul on Javin DeLaurier
6:36
+1
Josh Perkins made 1st of 2 free throws
70-80
6:36
+1
Josh Perkins made 2nd of 2 free throws
70-81
6:26
+2
Zion Williamson made layup
72-81
6:07
Rui Hachimura missed jump shot
6:05
Defensive rebound by Tre Jones
5:56
Shooting foul on Geno Crandall
5:56
+1
Javin DeLaurier made 1st of 2 free throws
73-81
5:56
Javin DeLaurier missed 2nd of 2 free throws
5:56
Offensive rebound by Jack White
5:49
RJ Barrett missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:47
Offensive rebound by Tre Jones
5:43
Tre Jones missed layup, blocked by Rui Hachimura
5:43
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
5:43
+2
Zion Williamson made dunk
75-81
5:21
Brandon Clarke missed jump shot
5:19
Offensive rebound by Gonzaga
5:02
Bad pass turnover on Rui Hachimura, stolen by Zion Williamson
4:55
+2
RJ Barrett made dunk, assist by Zion Williamson
77-81
4:50
Personal foul on Jack White
4:50
+1
Zach Norvell Jr. made 1st of 2 free throws
77-82
4:50
+1
Zach Norvell Jr. made 2nd of 2 free throws
77-83
4:36
Zion Williamson missed layup
4:34
Offensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
4:50
+2
Javin DeLaurier made dunk
79-83
4:08
Corey Kispert missed 3-pt. jump shot, blocked by Zion Williamson
4:06
Defensive rebound by Tre Jones
3:45
+2
RJ Barrett made layup
81-83
3:45
Shooting foul on Rui Hachimura
3:45
RJ Barrett missed free throw
3:45
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
3:34
+2
Brandon Clarke made layup, assist by Rui Hachimura
81-85
3:34
Shooting foul on Jack White
3:33
+1
Brandon Clarke made free throw
81-86
3:16
+2
Tre Jones made jump shot
83-86
2:57
Brandon Clarke missed layup
2:55
Defensive rebound by Jack White
2:29
+2
Tre Jones made jump shot
85-86
2:10
Josh Perkins missed jump shot
2:08
Offensive rebound by Corey Kispert
1:53
Shooting foul on Javin DeLaurier
1:52
Brandon Clarke missed 1st of 2 free throws
1:52
+1
Brandon Clarke made 2nd of 2 free throws
85-87
1:43
+2
Zion Williamson made jump shot, assist by RJ Barrett
87-87
1:15
+2
Rui Hachimura made layup, assist by Brandon Clarke
87-89
54.0
RJ Barrett missed 3-pt. jump shot
52.0
Offensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
47.0
Tre Jones missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke
45.0
Offensive rebound by Duke
42.0
RJ Barrett missed layup, blocked by Rui Hachimura
40.0
Offensive rebound by Duke
34.0
RJ Barrett missed jump shot, blocked by Rui Hachimura
32.0
Defensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
30.0
Personal foul on RJ Barrett
31.0
Brandon Clarke missed 1st of 2 free throws
31.0
Brandon Clarke missed 2nd of 2 free throws
31.0
Defensive rebound by Zion Williamson
15.0
RJ Barrett missed layup
13.0
Offensive rebound by Jack White
13.0
Jack White missed layup
11.0
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
10.0
Personal foul on Jack White
11.0
Rui Hachimura missed 1st of 2 free throws
11.0
Rui Hachimura missed 2nd of 2 free throws
11.0
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
1.0
RJ Barrett missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke