Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball: 2021 NCAA MBK West Regional Final: USC Trojans vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Gonzaga Bulldogs Game Notes

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball’. Tonight, it is the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball West Regional Final between USC Trojans and Gonzaga Bulldogs.

This is a Pac-12/West Coast Conference Showdown. Over the recent years Gonzaga Bulldogs have outshined Bill Walton’s ‘Conference of Champions’, when it comes to Men’s Basketball. The Zags are looking to be the first team since Bobby Knight’s 1976 Indiana Hoosiers to have a perfect season.

For the ‘Men of Troy’, they are not as successful of a Men’s Basketball Program, then their crosstown rival UCLA Bruins. But this year, they are hoping that the Mobley Brothers will lead them to their first Final Four since 1954.

As mentioned, Evan Mobley leads Southern California in scoring and rebounding. While Tahj Eaddy leads Trojans in assists.

For the Bulldogs, they are led by Corey Kispert in scoring. Drew Timme leads Gonzaga in rebounding. While Jalen Suggs leads the Spokane Catholic University in assists.

It is USC Trojans and Gonzaga Bulldogs, coming up shortly.

Possible Starting Lineups:
USC Trojans:
G: T. Eaddy
G: I. White
G: D. Peterson
F: I. Mobley
F: E. Mobley

Gonzaga Bulldogs:
G: J. Suggs
G: J. Ayayi
G: A. Nembhard
F: C. Kispert
F: D. Timme

Trojans are in their maroon uniforms. While Bulldogs are in their home white uniforms. 

1st Half:
20:00: Trojans win tipoff. Bulldogs will have the possession arrow, in their favor. 
19:35: Timme with a steal and foul. 
19:35: Timme makes 1 of 2 free throws. USC 0, ZAGS 1
19:23: Ayayi with a layup. USC 0, ZAGS 3
18:27: Ayayi with a layup. USC 0, ZAGS 5
18:05: Suggs with a layup. USC 0, ZAGS 7
18:03: TROJANS TIMEOUT #1: USC 0, ZAGS 7
17:34: E. Mobley with a rebound and tipin. USC 2, ZAGS 7
17:34: INJURY TIMEOUT: Ayayi is down underneath the basket. 
16:46: I. Mobley with a tipin. USC 4, ZAGS 7
16:26: Timme with a layup. USC 4, ZAGS 9
15:57: Nembhard with a steal and layup. USC 4, ZAGS 11
15:44: MEDICAL TIMEOUT: Bert Smith collapsed on the court. he is one of the referees in this game. USC 4, ZAGS 11

​15:44: Play has resumed.
15:12: Timme with a jump shot. USC 4, ZAGS 13
14:51: Timme with a jam. USC 4, ZAGS 15
14:28: Timme with a steal and layup. USC 4, ZAGS 17
14:27: TROJANS TIMEOUT #2: USC 4, ZAGS 17

​13:35: E. Mobley with a layup. USC 6, ZAGS 17
13:09: Timme with a hook shot. USC 6, ZAGS 19
12:57: E. Mobley makes both free throws. USC 8, ZAGS 19
12:44: Suggs with a layup. USC 8, ZAGS 21
11:58: Timme with a layup. USC 8, ZAGS 23
11:28: T.V. Timeout #1: USC 8, ZAGS 23

​11:28: Suggs makes both free throws. USC 8, ZAGS 25
11:02: I. Mobley with a FG. USC 10, ZAGS 25
10:26: Rules Analyst Gene Steratore claims Bert Smith feel due to 'light-headedness'.  
10:12: Suggs with a FG. USC 10, ZAGS 27
10:00: Eaddy with a FG. USC 12, ZAGS 27
9:12: Nembhard with a layup. USC 12, ZAGS 29
8:39: Peterson drains a 3-point FG. USC 15, ZAGS 29
7:48: Kispert draws a foul, behind the 3-point line. 
7:48: T.V. Timeout #2: USC 15, ZAGS 29

​​7:48: Kispert makes 2 of 3 free throws. USC 15, ZAGS 31
6:33: Suggs buries a 3-point FG. USC 15, ZAGS 34
6:03: Kispert with a layup. USC 15, ZAGS 36
4:49: Eaddy nails a 3-point FG. USC 20, ZAGS 36
4:27: I. Mobley with a 3-point FG. USC 23, ZAGS 36
4:25: BULLDOGS TIMEOUT #1: USC 23, ZAGS 36

3:55: Kispert makes a 3-point FG. USC 23, ZAGS 39
3:38: Eaddy makes 1 of 2 free throws. USC 24, ZAGS 39
3:22: Suggs makes a jump shot. USC 24, ZAGS 41
2:48: I. Mobley with a layup. USC 26, ZAGS 41
2:17: Timme with a layup. USC 26, ZAGS 43
2:02: Timme commits his 2nd personal foul. 
2:02: Both teams are in the Bonus.
2:02: E. Mobley makes both free throws. USC 28, ZAGS 43
1:47: Nembhard with a jump shot. USC 28, ZAGS 45
1:15: Peterson makes a jump shot. USC 30, ZAGS 45
:58: Kispert with a layup. USC 30, ZAGS 47
:36.8: Cook makes both free throws. USC 30, ZAGS 49
:00: The End of 1st Half. Bulldogs will inbound to start the 2nd Half. 

Halftime:
USC 30, ZAGS 49

Halftime Leaders:
Scoring: Timme (ZAGS) 
Rebounding: Kispert/I. Mobley 5 rebounds
Assists: Suggs (ZAGS) 5 assists

Halftime Thoughts:
Bulldogs turned their defense into offense. They scored 11 points off 8 Trojan Turnovers. One concern for the Bulldogs is the Drew Timme is in foul trouble with 2 fouls.

For the Trojans, they have to take care of the ball and get to the free throw line.  

2nd Half:
20:00: Bulldogs will inbound to start the 2nd Half. Trojans will have the possession arrow, in their favor. 
​19:38: NCAA March Madness claims there are no ties nor lead changes. Bulldogs largest lead was 21. 
19:28: E. Mobley with a hook shot. USC 32, ZAGS 49
19:04: Kispert buries a 3-point FG. USC 32, ZAGS 52
18:42: White with a layup. USC 34, ZAGS 52
18:24: Timme with a jam. USC 34, ZAGS 54
17:44: Ayayi with a jam. USC 34, ZAGS 56
17:40: TROJANS TIMEOUT #3: USC 34, ZAGS 56

​17;23: White missed both free throws. 
17:01: E. Mobley makes 1 of 2 free throws. USC 35, ZAGS 56
16:49: Timme makes both free throws. USC 35, ZAGS 58
16:26: Anderson with an air ball. 
15:55: E. Mobley with a finger roll layup. USC 37, ZAGS 58
14:44: Peterson with a layup. USC 39, ZAGS 58
14:13: T.V. Timeout #3: USC 39, ZAGS 58

​14:04: Peterson with a layup. USC 41, ZAGS 58
13:22: Kispert with a 3-point FG. USC 41, ZAGS 61
12:36: Nembhard makes 1 of 2 free throws. USC 41, ZAGS 62
12:25: Trojans commit a 10-second violation. 
11:52: Watson makes a block.
11:40: Agbonkpolo with a layup. USC 43, ZAGS 62
11:29: Timme with a layup. USC 43, ZAGS 64
11:06: T.V. Timeout #4: USC 43, ZAGS 64

​11:06: Peterson makes both free throws. USC 45, ZAGS 64
10:44: Cook drills a 3-point FG. USC 45, ZAGS 67
9:52: Suggs with a FG. USC 45, ZAGS 69
9:43: Eaddy with a FG. USC 47, ZAGS 69
8:17: Ayayi makes 1 of 2 free throws. USC 47, ZAGS 70
8:05: I. Mobley makes a FG and foul. I. Mobley makes a free throw. USC 50, ZAGS 70
7:49: T.V. Timeout #5: USC 50, ZAGS 70

​Coming Up Next on my Personal Website, I Will Be Live-Blogging UCLA/Michigan in the East Regional Final 

7:49: Kispert makes 1 of 2 free throws. USC 50, ZAGS 71
7:24: I. Mobley with a FG. USC 52, ZAGS 71
7:09: Cook makes a 3-point FG. USC 52, ZAGS 74
6:44: Eaddy with a 3-point FG. USC 55, ZAGS 74
5:16: Peterson drills a jump shot. USC 57, ZAGS 74
4:51: Kispert with a layup. USC 57, ZAGS 76
4:40: I. Mobley makes 1 of 2 free throws. USC 58, ZAGS 76
4:22: Ayayi with a jump shot. USC 58, ZAGS 78
3:45: T.V. Timeout #6: USC 58, ZAGS 78

​3:45: Trojans are in the Bonus.

3:28: Both teams are in the Bonus.
2:56: E. Mobley makes both free throws. USC 60, ZAGS 78
2:16: Timme with a hook shot. USC 60, ZAGS 80
1:59: E. Mobley with a jam. USC 62, ZAGS 80
1:18: I. Mobley makes both free throws. USC 64, ZAGS 80
1:18: BULLDOGS TIMEOUT #2: USC 64, ZAGS 80
:50.8: Suggs buries a 3-point FG. USC 64, ZAGS 83
:50.8: BULLDOGS TIMEOUT #3: USC 64, ZAGS 83
:10: Harris with a layup. USC 64, ZAGS 85
:03: Agbonkpolo makes a hook shot. USC 66, ZAGS 85 

Final:
USC 66, ZAGS 85

Gonzaga Bulldogs advance to the National Semifinal (aka Final Four), for the 2nd time in school history. It is also the 2nd time in 4 tournaments. 

Final Leaders:
Scoring: Timme (ZAGS) 23 Points
Rebounding: Suggs (ZAGS) 10 rebounds
Assists: Suggs (ZAGS) 8 assists

Final Thoughts:
Gonzaga dominated the game from the start of the game. They won this game by their defense and rebounding. For the Trojans, they didn't start scoring until it was too late. 

Gonzaga Bulldogs await the winner of UCLA/Michigan on Saturday Night. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Junior. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball'. Thanks for visiting this page.