#1/1 Gonzaga (5-0, 0-0 WCC) vs. #2/2 UCLA (5-0, 0-0 PAC-12)
TUESDAY, NOV. 23 | 7 P.M. | T-MOBILE ARENA | LAS VEGAS
TELEVISION: ESPN
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
THE TIP OFF
- Top-ranked Gonzaga squares off against No. 2 UCLA in the final game of the 2021 Good Sam Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project presented by Continental Tire. It's the seventh meeting between the programs Tuesday night at 7, in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. GU owns a 4-2 record in the series all-time.
- Tuesday's game is the 43rd all-time matchup between the AP's top two teams, but the first such meeting between two teams from the Pacific Time Zone. The last time No. 1 and 2 met in the Pacific Time Zone was the 1975 NCAA title game in San Diego, when No. 1 UCLA beat No. 2 Kentucky, 92-85.
 The Bulldogs are coming off a dominant 107-54 win over Central Michigan in the second game of the Empire Classic Monday. Five Zags finished in double-digit scoring led by Chet Holmgren's 19 points.
- Gonzaga is 5-0 for the fourth straight season, and fifth time in the last six seasons. The Bulldogs have started the last three seasons 8-0.
- Chet Holmgren was selected as the WCC Freshman of the Week for the second straight week.
- The Zags are No. 1 in the Associated Press preseason poll for the 20th straight time matching San Francisco's run from 1955-56 for the fourth-longest streak in the poll's history. Gonzaga leads the country with 98 consecutive appearances in the AP Top 25, with Villanova second at 43.
 
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
- UCLA entered the season with lofty expectation as the second-ranked team in the AP and Coaches' polls.
- The Bruins have opened the season with five wins, including an overtime victory over then-ranked No. 4 Villanova.
- Against Villanova, Johnny Juzang scored 25 points, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 21 points and 13 rebounds.
- Four Bruins are currently averaging double-digit scoring paced by Juzang's 19.8 points. Jaquez Jr. chips in 15.6 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds.
- Tyger Campbell has dished out a team-best 24 assists. He averages 10.8 points per game.
- Juzang was a consensus preseason All-American selection.
- UCLA's returns its starting five lineup from last season's Final Four.
 
ON THIS DAY IN ZAG HISTORY
- Gonzaga is 7-3 on Nov. 23 since joining Div. 1 in 1958-59.
- The last game on this date was a 77-49 over CSU Bakersfield in Spokane in 2019.
- The Zags opened the PK80 in 2017 with an 86-59 win over Ohio State.
- On this date, GU beat Oklahoma in the 2012 Old Spice Classic semifinals in Orlando, 72-47.
- In the 2009 Maui Invitational quarterfinals, the Bulldogs beat Colorado, 76-72, on this date.
 
MILESTONE WATCH
- Andrew Nembhard is 36 points from 1,000 in his career.
- Nembhard is 19 rebounds from 300 in his career.
 
ZAGS VERSUS A NUMBER TWO RANKED FOE
- The Zags last played a No. 2 ranked team on Nov. 17, 2009, falling at Michigan State, who was ranked second in the AP and Coaches' polls, 75-71.
- Other matchups with second-ranked opponents included;
March 27, 2009 - #2/3 vs. North Carolina, L, 77-98
Dec. 20, 2008 - #2 vs. Connecticut, L, 83-88 (OT)
Nov. 22, 2006 - #2 vs. North Carolina, W, 82-74
March 22, 2003 - #2 vs. Arizona, L, 95-96 (2OT)
Nov. 16, 2001 - #2 at Illinois, L, 58-76
Dec. 1, 1980 - #2 at DePaul, L, 56-74
Feb. 4, 1960 - #2 Bradley, L, 69-80
 
GIVING THANKS FOR THESE TOURNAMENTS
- Gonzaga is 41-10 under Mark Few in tournaments during the week of Thanksgiving.
- The Zags are 30-4 in the last eight Thanksgiving week tournaments, including this season.
- Under Mark Few, GU has won six tournaments during the week of Thanksgiving, and played in 10 of the 14 tournament championship games.
- Last season, the Bulldogs opened 2020-21 with wins over No. 6 Kansas and Auburn in the Ft. Myers Tipoff over the Thanksgiving break in Florida.
 
HOLMGREN NAMED WCC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
- Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren repeated as WCC Freshman of the Week as he averaged 14.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 3.5 blocks in wins over Alcorn State and Bellarmine.
- Holmgren also shot 75.0 percent from the field and 100.0 percent from the free-throw line and posted new career highs in points (18), field goals made (8) and steals in Gonzaga's win over Bellarmine.