Maui, HI (Sports Network) - Robert Sacre had the go-ahead dunk in overtime as Gonzaga edged Cincinnati, 61-59, to win the championship game at the Maui Invitational.
Gonzaga Takes Maui Title Back To Mainland With 61-59 Win Over Cincinnati
Sacre had a team-leading 14 points for the Bulldogs (5-1), who beat Colorado and then Wisconsin earlier in the tournament. Elias Harris and Steven Gray each posted 13 points for Gonzaga, while Demetri Goodson scored 12. Matt Bouldin had 11 rebounds in the win.
Lance Stephenson scored 15 for the Bearcats (4-1), who topped ranked teams Vanderbilt and Maryland prior to the Wednesday loss. Yancy Gates added 11 points in defeat.
It was a wild end to regulation. Stephenson’s layup gave the Bearcats a 55-53 edge with 1:50 left, but he couldn’t seal the win. Stephenson missed a three- pointer with under a minute remaining, and Sacre’s bucket in the lane wtih 15.6 ticks left tied the game.
Sacre then blocked a possible alley-oop bucket on a pass from Stephenson to Gates. There was contact by Sacre, but no foul was called as the game went into OT tied at 55.
His go-ahead jam came with 2:45 remaining and Harris’ one free throw made it a three-point margin with 1:35 to go. Deonta Vaughn missed a three-pointer for the Bearcats with just over a minute remaining, but a Gates dunk with 12.6 to go made it a one-point margin.
Sacre made 1-of-2 at the line with 9.8 seconds left and then the Bulldogs survived when Cashmere Wright’s lean-in shot went off the backboard and rim in the closing seconds.
Cincy held a 23-19 halftime lead and gained a 10-point edge in the second half until Gonzaga rallied late.
This marked Gonzaga’s third trip to the Maui Invitational. The Bulldogs advanced to the 2005 title game in their last appearance in Maui, falling to Connecticut, 65-63.
See More:
