Gonzaga led for a good amount of the game, but Syracuse never let the game get out of reach.   Gonzaga found themselves up 57-48 with 6:28 off a layup from big man Domantas Sabonis.  That was a big moment for multiple reasons.  The 9 point lead was the largest of the second half for Gonzaga – but it also would be the last time Gonzaga hit a basket from the field.    Syracuse’s suffocating defense kept getting stop after stop, and chipping away at the lead.   Then, with under 25 seconds to play, Michael Gbinijie drives to the basket only to get his shot blocked.  But he refused to be denied, grabbed the offensive rebound and made the layup to give the Orange a 61-60 lead.

Then, it was once again that defense, Trever Cooney looked like he stole the ball in the corner, except the referee had ruled that he stepped out of bounds to get Gonzaga one last chance.   Josh Perkins took one last drive into the lane, but found his shot blocked by Tyler Lydon.   Two free throws later, and the Orange walk away with a 3 point victory over the West Coast Conference tournament champs, and they survive to play Virginia in the Elite 8.   And that ends the Cinderella bid for Gonzaga – the clock has struck midnight (literally) on the mid-major champions.

Congratulations to Syracuse – who continue to incredible run as a 10 seed to the Elite 8 (sorry, but I can’t call an ACC team Cinderella – even if they are a 10 seed).   And as I write this, the Tar Heels have a 16 point lead over the Hoosiers with under 30 seconds.   So, it looks like the ACC will have a complete sweep of Friday night.   So, congratulations to the ACC champions as well, the North Carolina Tar Heels!!!!