GONZAG

UCONN

McNeeley lifts No. 18 UConn past No. 8 Gonzaga 77-71

AP
Dec 14, 2024

NEW YORK (AP) Liam McNeeley scored 26 points for No. 18 UConn, which fended off a series of rallies by No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs to earn a 77-71 win in a Hall of Fame Series matchup at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

Tarris Reed Jr. scored 12 points and Jaylin Stewart added 10 for two-time defending national champion UConn (8-3) for coach Dan Hurley's 300th win.

Khalif Battle had 21 points, Ryan Nembhard finished with 16 points and Michael Ajayi added 14 points for Gonzaga (7-3), which fell to 2-6 all-time against UConn.

UConn opened the game on a 13-2 run and led 43-40 at the half. Gonzaga tied the game at 55 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Battle and Nembhard before the Huskies scored the next 10 points.

The Bulldogs got within 73-70 on an old-fashioned 3-point play by Ajayi with 3:25 left, but Nembhard missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer before Alex Karaban hit a layup as the shot clock expired with a minute left.

Gonzaga: The Bulldogs, who fell to then-No. 4 Kentucky 90-89 in overtime on Dec. 7, have lost two straight games for the first time since Dec. 9-15, 2018.

UConn: Samson Johnson exited with 11:09 left in the first half after he hit the floor hard while trying to block a layup by Battle.

Stewart scored five straight points out of a UConn timeout to spark the Huskies’ decisive 10-0 run.

Gonzaga shot 35.5% in the second half, when the Bulldogs missed six layups or short point-blank jumpers.

UConn opens Big East play Wednesday by hosting Xavier in Hartford. Gonzaga also returns home Wednesday, when the Bulldogs play Nicholls State.

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1st Half
GONZ
Bulldogs
40
UCONN
Huskies
43

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Graham Ike vs. Samson Johnson (Alex Karaban gains possession)
19:47	+2	Samson Johnson makes two point dunk (Hassan Diarra assists)	0-2
19:21	+2	Michael Ajayi makes two point layup (Graham Ike assists)	2-2
18:54	+2	Liam McNeeley makes two point jump shot	2-4
18:37		Ryan Nembhard misses two point layup
18:35		Samson Johnson defensive rebound
18:25	+2	Samson Johnson makes two point dunk (Alex Karaban assists)	2-6
18:13		Graham Ike turnover (lost ball)
18:00	+3	Liam McNeeley makes three point jump shot (Samson Johnson assists)	2-9
17:46		Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot
17:44		Samson Johnson defensive rebound
17:39		Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
17:37		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
17:30		Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot
17:28		Hassan Diarra defensive rebound
17:22	+2	Solo Ball makes two point dunk (Hassan Diarra assists)	2-11
17:22		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
16:55		Ryan Nembhard turnover (bad pass) (Hassan Diarra steals)
16:31	+2	Liam McNeeley makes two point jump shot	2-13
16:24		Ryan Nembhard turnover (bad pass)
16:08		Samson Johnson offensive foul
16:08		Samson Johnson turnover (offensive foul)
15:48	+2	Khalif Battle makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists)	4-13
15:29		Braden Huff blocks Tarris Reed Jr.'s two point hook shot
15:27		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
15:23	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	7-13
14:59		Solo Ball misses two point jump shot
14:57		Alex Karaban offensive rebound
14:55	+2	Alex Karaban makes two point layup	7-15
14:28		Solo Ball personal foul
14:28		TV timeout
14:11	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot	10-15
13:44	+2	Tarris Reed Jr. makes two point layup (Jayden Ross assists)	10-17
13:31		Tarris Reed Jr. shooting foul (Ben Gregg draws the foul)
13:31	+1	Ben Gregg makes regular free throw 1 of 2	11-17
13:31	+1	Ben Gregg makes regular free throw 2 of 2	12-17
13:21		Ryan Nembhard personal foul
13:07		Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
13:05		Bulldogs defensive rebound
12:57		Braden Huff offensive foul
12:57		Braden Huff turnover (offensive foul)
12:37	+3	Jaylin Stewart makes three point jump shot (Aidan Mahaney assists)	12-20
12:16	+2	Braden Huff makes two point hook shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	14-20
11:51		Jaylin Stewart misses two point layup
11:49		Huskies offensive rebound
11:49		Ben Gregg personal foul
11:49		TV timeout
11:40		Aidan Mahaney misses two point jump shot
11:38		Bulldogs defensive rebound
11:38		Jayden Ross personal foul
11:22		Khalif Battle misses two point layup
11:20		Jaylin Stewart defensive rebound
11:09		Official timeout
11:02		Hassan Diarra turnover (bad pass) (Dusty Stromer steals)
10:55	+3	Ben Gregg makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	17-20
10:23		Alex Karaban turnover (bad pass) (Ryan Nembhard steals)
10:19		Dusty Stromer misses three point jump shot
10:17		Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
10:09		Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
10:07		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
9:57	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point jump shot	19-20
9:47		Huskies 30 second timeout
9:40		Tarris Reed Jr. misses two point layup
9:38		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
9:24		Ben Gregg turnover (traveling)
8:57		Tarris Reed Jr. turnover (traveling)
8:40		Alex Karaban shooting foul (Dusty Stromer draws the foul)
8:40	+1	Dusty Stromer makes regular free throw 1 of 2	20-20
8:40	+1	Dusty Stromer makes regular free throw 2 of 2	21-20
8:26		Hassan Diarra misses three point jump shot
8:24		Solo Ball offensive rebound
8:19		Ben Gregg blocks Solo Ball's two point layup
8:17		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
8:17		Hassan Diarra personal foul
8:07		Tarris Reed Jr. blocks Braden Huff's two point hook shot
8:05		Braden Huff offensive rebound
8:03		Jaylin Stewart blocks Braden Huff's two point layup
8:01		Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
7:54	+2	Tarris Reed Jr. makes two point layup (Hassan Diarra assists)	21-22
7:54		Ben Gregg shooting foul
7:54		TV timeout
7:54	+1	Tarris Reed Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1	21-23
7:41		Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot
7:39		Bulldogs offensive rebound
7:39		Jaylin Stewart personal foul
7:39		Michael Ajayi misses regular free throw 1 of 1
7:39		Jaylin Stewart defensive rebound
7:09	+2	Hassan Diarra makes two point jump shot	21-25
7:09		Official timeout
6:53		Graham Ike misses two point jump shot
6:51		Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
6:39		Nolan Hickman shooting foul
6:39	+1	Solo Ball makes regular free throw 1 of 3	21-26
6:39	+1	Solo Ball makes regular free throw 2 of 3	21-27
6:39	+1	Solo Ball makes regular free throw 3 of 3	21-28
6:25	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	24-28
6:04		Hassan Diarra turnover (bad pass) (Ryan Nembhard steals)
6:03		Solo Ball personal foul
6:03	+1	Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-28
6:03	+1	Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	26-28
5:41		Dusty Stromer shooting foul
5:41	+1	Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	26-29
5:41	+1	Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 2 of 2	26-30
5:26	+2	Michael Ajayi makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists)	28-30
5:26		Jaylin Stewart shooting foul
5:26	+1	Michael Ajayi makes regular free throw 1 of 1	29-30
5:05	+2	Tarris Reed Jr. makes two point layup (Hassan Diarra assists)	29-32
5:05		Graham Ike shooting foul
5:05	+1	Tarris Reed Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1	29-33
4:46	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup	31-33
4:20	+2	Aidan Mahaney makes two point layup (Hassan Diarra assists)	31-35
4:14		Khalif Battle misses three point jump shot
4:12		Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
3:57		Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
3:55		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
3:41		Tarris Reed Jr. shooting foul
3:41		TV timeout
3:41		Graham Ike misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:41	+1	Graham Ike makes regular free throw 2 of 2	32-35
3:18	+2	Jaylin Stewart makes two point jump shot	32-37
3:03	+2	Braden Huff makes two point hook shot	34-37
2:45		Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
2:43		Michael Ajayi defensive rebound
2:28	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point jump shot	36-37
2:06		Aidan Mahaney misses two point layup
2:04		Michael Ajayi defensive rebound
1:48	+2	Michael Ajayi makes two point dunk (Braden Huff assists)	38-37
1:23		Braden Huff shooting foul
1:23	+1	Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 1 of 2	38-38
1:23	+1	Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-39
1:07		Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot
1:05		Alex Karaban defensive rebound
0:38	+2	Liam McNeeley makes two point jump shot	38-41
0:08		Dusty Stromer misses two point jump shot
0:07		Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
0:06		Michael Ajayi personal foul
0:06	+1	Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	38-42
0:06	+1	Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-43
0:01	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup	40-43
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
GONZ
Bulldogs
31
UCONN
Huskies
34

Time		Play	Score
19:49		Graham Ike turnover (traveling)
19:35		Graham Ike shooting foul (Liam McNeeley draws the foul)
19:35	+1	Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	40-44
19:35	+1	Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 2 of 2	40-45
19:24		Ryan Nembhard misses two point layup
19:22		Michael Ajayi offensive rebound
19:17	+2	Michael Ajayi makes two point layup	42-45
18:51		Hassan Diarra misses three point jump shot
18:49		Alex Karaban offensive rebound
18:49	+2	Alex Karaban makes two point layup	42-47
18:49		Michael Ajayi shooting foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul)
18:49		Alex Karaban misses regular free throw 1 of 1
18:49		Bulldogs defensive rebound
18:37		Tarris Reed Jr. personal foul
18:33		Youssouf Singare personal foul (Graham Ike draws the foul)
18:22		Graham Ike misses two point hook shot
18:20		Solo Ball defensive rebound
17:56		Graham Ike shooting foul (Liam McNeeley draws the foul)
17:56		Liam McNeeley misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:56		Liam McNeeley misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:56		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
17:42		Braden Huff misses two point jump shot
17:40		Alex Karaban defensive rebound
17:34		Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
17:32		Hassan Diarra offensive rebound
17:32	+2	Hassan Diarra makes two point layup	42-49
17:32		Michael Ajayi shooting foul (Hassan Diarra draws the foul)
17:32	+1	Hassan Diarra makes regular free throw 1 of 1	42-50
17:19		Ben Gregg misses two point layup
17:17		Bulldogs offensive rebound
17:14	+2	Khalif Battle makes two point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	44-50
16:55		Khalif Battle personal foul
16:47	+3	Solo Ball makes three point jump shot (Liam McNeeley assists)	44-53
16:30		Alex Karaban shooting foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul)
16:30	+1	Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-53
16:30		Ryan Nembhard misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:30		Youssouf Singare defensive rebound
16:16		Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
16:14		Youssouf Singare offensive rebound
16:10		Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
16:08		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
16:03		Solo Ball personal foul
15:47	+2	Braden Huff makes two point layup (Khalif Battle assists)	47-53
15:27		Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
15:25		Youssouf Singare offensive rebound
15:20		Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
15:18		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
15:17		Hassan Diarra shooting foul (Khalif Battle draws the foul)
15:17		TV timeout
15:17	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 1 of 2	48-53
15:17	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-53
14:52		Braden Huff blocks Hassan Diarra's two point layup
14:50		Braden Huff defensive rebound
14:45		Braden Huff misses three point jump shot
14:43		Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
14:15		Hassan Diarra misses two point jump shot
14:13		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
14:02		Braden Huff turnover (bad pass) (Hassan Diarra steals)
13:53		Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
13:52		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
13:52		Liam McNeeley personal foul
13:30		Ben Gregg turnover (lost ball) (Alex Karaban steals)
13:24		Alex Karaban turnover (bad pass) (Khalif Battle steals)
13:14		Khalif Battle misses two point layup
13:12		Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
13:05		Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
13:03		Liam McNeeley offensive rebound
12:56	+2	Liam McNeeley makes two point layup	49-55
12:51		Braden Huff misses two point jump shot
12:49		Jaylin Stewart defensive rebound
12:37		Huskies turnover (10-second violation)
12:26	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot (Ben Gregg assists)	52-55
12:14		Aidan Mahaney misses two point layup
12:12		Ben Gregg defensive rebound
12:01	+3	Ryan Nembhard makes three point jump shot (Ben Gregg assists)	55-55
11:51		Huskies 30 second timeout
11:51		TV timeout
11:40	+3	Jaylin Stewart makes three point jump shot (Liam McNeeley assists)	55-58
11:25		Ryan Nembhard misses two point layup
11:23		Ben Gregg offensive rebound
11:19		Ben Gregg misses two point layup
11:17		Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
11:12	+2	Jaylin Stewart makes two point layup (Liam McNeeley assists)	55-60
11:01		Tarris Reed Jr. blocks Ryan Nembhard's two point layup
10:59		Huskies defensive rebound
10:57		TV timeout
10:34	+2	Tarris Reed Jr. makes two point dunk (Liam McNeeley assists)	55-62
10:15		Khalif Battle misses two point layup
10:13		Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
10:10	+3	Liam McNeeley makes three point jump shot (Hassan Diarra assists)	55-65
10:08		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
9:39	+2	Dusty Stromer makes two point layup	57-65
9:14		Hassan Diarra misses three point jump shot
9:12		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
9:05		Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot
9:03		Alex Karaban defensive rebound
8:44		Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
8:42		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
8:32	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup	59-65
8:02		Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
8:00		Bulldogs defensive rebound
8:00		TV timeout
7:41		Hassan Diarra shooting foul (Khalif Battle draws the foul)
7:41	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-65
7:41	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-65
7:21		Hassan Diarra turnover (traveling)
7:09		Graham Ike turnover (bad pass) (Jayden Ross steals)
7:04	+2	Jayden Ross makes two point layup	61-67
6:40	+2	Graham Ike makes two point jump shot (Khalif Battle assists)	63-67
6:19	+2	Tarris Reed Jr. makes two point layup (Jayden Ross assists)	63-69
6:02		Graham Ike offensive foul
6:02		Graham Ike turnover (offensive foul)
5:46		Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
5:44		Michael Ajayi defensive rebound
5:26		Dusty Stromer misses three point jump shot
5:24		Michael Ajayi offensive rebound
5:19	+2	Michael Ajayi makes two point layup	65-69
5:04		Khalif Battle shooting foul (Liam McNeeley draws the foul)
5:04	+1	Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-70
5:04	+1	Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 2 of 2	65-71
4:49		Khalif Battle misses two point layup
4:47		Braden Huff offensive rebound
4:43	+2	Braden Huff makes two point layup	67-71
4:24		Tarris Reed Jr. misses two point layup
4:22		Braden Huff defensive rebound
4:06		Ryan Nembhard misses two point jump shot
4:04		Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
3:34	+2	Liam McNeeley makes two point layup	67-73
3:27		Dusty Stromer misses three point jump shot
3:25		Michael Ajayi offensive rebound
3:25	+2	Michael Ajayi makes two point layup	69-73
3:25		Tarris Reed Jr. shooting foul (Michael Ajayi draws the foul)
3:25		TV timeout
3:25	+1	Michael Ajayi makes regular free throw 1 of 1	70-73
2:58		Liam McNeeley misses two point jump shot
2:56		Braden Huff defensive rebound
2:30		Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot
2:28		Hassan Diarra defensive rebound
1:59		Tarris Reed Jr. misses two point layup
1:57		Braden Huff defensive rebound
1:30		Tarris Reed Jr. blocks Braden Huff's two point hook shot
1:28		Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
0:59	+2	Alex Karaban makes two point layup (Hassan Diarra assists)	70-75
0:59		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
0:52		Ryan Nembhard misses two point layup
0:50		Jayden Ross defensive rebound
0:50		Jump ball. Braden Huff vs. Jayden Ross (Huskies gains possession)
0:42		Huskies 30 second timeout
0:41		Official timeout
0:25		Hassan Diarra misses three point jump shot
0:23		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
0:23		Alex Karaban personal foul (Khalif Battle draws the foul)
0:23	+1	Khalif Battle makes regular free throw 1 of 2	71-75
0:23		Khalif Battle misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:23		Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
0:20		Emmanuel Innocenti personal foul (Liam McNeeley draws the foul)
0:20	+1	Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	71-76
0:20	+1	Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 2 of 2	71-77
0:10		Khalif Battle misses three point jump shot
0:08		Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Liam McNeeley defensive rebound