**Game Recap: Kansas vs. Gonzaga**
In the opening half, No. 4 Kansas matched pace with No. 5 Gonzaga, holding a slim 44-43 lead at halftime. However, the Jayhawks faltered in the second period while the Bulldogs surged ahead, ultimately concluding Kansas’ season with a resounding 89-68 victory on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
Reflecting on the game, redshirt senior guard Dajuan Harris Jr. expressed halftime optimism, noting the need for defensive stops to turn the tide. “We went into halftime excited. We were positive,” he remarked postgame. “We just needed to get some stops because like coach said, it was a shootout. So if we capitalized on the defensive end, I think it would have taken care of itself.”
Gonzaga dominated offensively throughout, boasting a 60% field goal shooting and 53% accuracy from beyond the arc. Graduate forward Anton Watson led the charge with 21 points, supported by junior guard Nolan Hickman who contributed 17.
“Today’s lack of ability to slow them down was truly disappointing,” expressed head coach Bill Self in the postgame analysis.
Senior center Hunter Dickinson led Kansas with 15 points, shooting 6-for-15 from the field. Harris achieved a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists.
Reflecting on the season, Dickinson remarked, “To play on this stage for this program, it didn’t unfold as we hoped, but I had a lot of fun this year and wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Kansas found success beyond the arc in the first half, sinking seven of its 11 three-point attempts, but struggled in the second half. The team’s shooting plummeted to 27% from the field and 18% from three-point range, resulting in just 23 points.
“In the second half, our shots just weren’t falling, and they played exceptionally well,” Self noted. “They really took it to us in the second half.”
Gonzaga asserted dominance in the frontcourt early on, with redshirt junior forward Graham Ike and Watson combining for the Bulldogs’ first six points. Meanwhile, Kansas struggled with its initial shots as Gonzaga capitalized with high-percentage looks inside the paint.
Freshman guard Johnny Furphy energized the Jayhawks from their early slumber by scoring six consecutive points, including a three-pointer and a three-point play. This ignited a 13-4 surge for Kansas, propelling them to a 13-10 lead. Graduate guard Nicolas Timberlake also found his rhythm, chipping in with five consecutive points.
As the game progressed, both teams traded runs, keeping the contest closely contested. Harris contributed with a three-pointer and a lob to junior forward KJ Adams, providing Kansas with a surge of momentum. Neither team managed to establish a lead larger than two possessions.
Gonzaga knotted the score at 24-24 following three-pointers from redshirt freshman forward Braden Huff and junior guard Nolan Hickman. Despite Kansas struggling offensively, shooting just 1-for-11, they remained resilient on the defensive end, ensuring the game remained deadlocked.