South Carolina's Cinderella Run Ends At The Final Four, Gonzaga Advances To The National Championship

Who would have thought that South Carolina would have made it all the way to the final four before losing to Gonzaga by a score of 77-73? 

South Carolina finished the season with a record of 26-10 and was led by with 17 points while Chris Silvia battled Gonzaga's frontcourt and finished with 13 points to go along with 13 points,  13 rebounds to go along with three blocks. "according to http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040117aaf.html

The Gamecocks were the pursuer for most of the first half, as the Bulldogs were efficient on offense, especially on the interior. A 3-pointer from Dozier gave South Carolina a 10-8 lead five minutes in, but Gonzaga responded with a 12-4 run over the next three minutes to take a two-possession lead with 12 minutes to go. South Carolina leaned on a balanced offense early to keep pace, with six different players scoring for the team in the opening 10 minutes.

South Carolina matched five-point scoring bursts from Gonzaga to hang close at 26-all and 31-all, thanks in large part to the efforts of Justin McKieand Silva. McKie provided vital scoring for the team off the bench, hitting a pair of 3-pointers in a span of two minutes, with the second tying the score at 31 with 5:13 to play. The senior had a team-high eight points in the period. Silva had a pair of highlight-reel blocks to go with seven points and four rebounds in the half." according to http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040117aaf.html

A 7-0 run in the final two minutes of the half for the Bulldogs sent them into the break with their biggest lead of the game to that point, 45-36. Gonzaga was red-hot offensively, shooting over 57 percent from the field in the opening frame, led by 12 points for Nigel Williams-Goss. The Bulldogs were especially deadly from deep down the stretch, hitting all three 3-point attempts in the final six minutes to fuel the late run. South Carolina shot just 37 percent as a team but had five different players contribute at least five points. "according to http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040117aaf.html

Williams-Goss would be the heart of the Gonzaga offense early and often in the second half, scoring 11 of the team's first 20 points out of the break and driving the lead up to 65-51 with 11 minutes to go. "according to http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040117aaf.html

Williams-Goss missed a shot with 12.7 seconds left and South Carolina rebounded and called a timeout, trailing 75-72. South Carolina passed the ball around and Gonzaga fouled Sindarius Thornwell before he could shoot with 3.5 seconds left. Thornwell made the first free throw and missed the second on purpose in hopes of his teammates grabbing an offensive rebound. Killian Tillie rebounded for Gonzaga, was fouled and made two free throws to cement the game. "according to http://www.gozags.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040117aaa.html

On the night Nigel -Williams-Goss scored 23 points while  Gonzaga's big men combined for 27 and the Bulldogs kept South Carolina from taking a game-tying shot in a 77-73 victory Saturday night in a matchup of first-time teams at the Final Four. "according to http://www.gozags.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040117aaa.html

Przemek Karnowski and freshman Zach Collins, combined for  18 rebounds. while Collins also had a career-high six blocks. "according to http://www.gozags.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040117aaa.html

Gonzaga advances to the national title game Monday against North Carolina who won by one over Oregon Saturday by a score 77-76.