Gonzaga came into its third-round game against Iowa on Sunday with a statement to make, and that’s exactly what happened. The Bulldogs rolled past the Hawkeyes, 87-68, ending their streak of five straight losses in the third tound.
March Madness 2015 bracket update: Gonzaga rolls into Sweet 16
The Sweet 16 drought is over for the Bulldogs. They had no problem cruising past Iowa.
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With the win, Gonzaga is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2009 and just the third time since 2002. It will face No. 11 seed UCLA on Friday night in Houston, with the winner advancing to the Elite Eight.
The Bulldogs never trailed on Sunday against an Iowa team that dismantled Davidson in the second round. The Hawkeyes never had much hope, either. Gonzaga built a 17-point lead by halftime and maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half.
Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer hit a three 28 seconds into the game to start the scoring, and that served as a sign of things to come. Wiltjer led the Bulldogs with 24 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from three. Over two tournament games in Seattle, Wiltjer scored 45 points and shot 18-of-24 from the field.
As a team, Gonzaga made 10 of its 16 three-point attempts on Sunday, and Iowa had no response. The Hawkeyes were just 5-of-15 from distance and had no one to match Wiltjer’s scoring touch.
But it wasn't just Wiltjer who caught fire for Gonzaga. The Bulldogs had a balanced attack, with four players scoring in double figures. That includes Domantas Sabonis, who came off the bench and added 18 points to go along with nine rebounds. In addition, eight of the nine Bulldogs who played had at least two rebounds and Gonzaga controlled the Hawkeyes, 34-22, on the glass.
Jarrod Uthoff (20 points, eight rebounds) and Aaron White (19 points) paced the Hawkeyes in their final game of the season. The loss capped a 22-12 year for Iowa, which made its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
Here’s a look at an updated bracket, with the Sweet 16 almost set:
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