Jalen Suggs etched his name into Gonzaga lore with one desperation shot that changed history.
Jalen Suggs Gives Gonzaga Greatest Gift
The phenomenon known as March Madness creates legends and provides moments. For Suggs and Gonzaga, he delivered them a championship opportunity. Four years ago, the Bulldogs guard drained a three-pointer as time expired to give his team a 93-90 win over UCLA.
4 years ago today, Jalen Suggs hit a March Madness GAME-WINNER for the ages 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/2MDK8p2Hlk
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 3, 2025
With that win, Gonzaga advanced to the championship game. Granted, Baylor toppled Mark Few’s squad 86-70 in the title game. However, without Suggs’ heroics, the freshman brought the team to the water, but he couldn’t make them win.
Back and Forth Tussle
After 40 minutes, Gonzaga and UCLA were tied at 82. At the end of regulation, both teams looked gassed. Even Suggs, who turned the ball over at the end of regulation, looked a bit winded and didn’t look like he could play another five minutes.
Yet, the teams continued to wage a battle for another 300 seconds that proved to be one of the greatest endings in the long history of basketball. Suggs made one shot in the last eight minutes of game time between regulation and the extra frame. Suggs’ heave completes his thought of heroics. After the game, he spoke to ESPN regarding his mindset:
“I’ve always wanted to run up on the table like Kobe and D-Wade and go like that, and that’s the first thing I did,” said Suggs, Gonzaga’s star guard. “Man, that is something you practice on your mini-hoop as a kid or in the gym just messing around. And to be able to do that, it’s crazy.”
Before the game-winning shot, Suggs flashed the defensive acumen that helps him today as a member of the Orlando Magic.
“I couldn’t give him a free bucket. Either I would find him at the line or make a play on the ball. I went to the corner — it was tough to get it. I got it. I saw Drew running, and Tyger Campbell was fast. I wanted to throw it. It looked wide open. And then, as soon as I let it go out of my hands, he had liked another gear. It made it a lot closer than I wanted it to be. I knew Coach was maybe a little pissed that I made the pass, but it got through.”
The axiom about defense helping to win championships could not be more accurate. Despite filling the offensive stat box, the freshman tried to do a little of everything. His 16 points, five rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block suggest that he accomplished his mission of providing a sizable impact across the game.
Crucial Error
After UCLA’s Johnny Jurzang made a layup, the Bruins committed the cardinal sin of late-game defense. When Jurzang converted the shot, he and the rest of the team traced down the court. No one bothered to guard the inbound.
As a result, Suggs, with nothing in front of him, streaked down the court and fired a profound, albeit open, three-pointer that carried Gonzaga to the championship. Why wouldn’t the Bruins defend? Leaving a player open to getting such a great look at the basketball came back to bite UCLA as Gonzaga triumphed on a last-second shot.
Bottom Line
From James Forrest to Bryce Drew to Kris Dunn and eventually Suggs, buzzer-beaters indelibly carve names into historical lore. March Madness will always lend itself to the unexpected, as Davids battle Goliaths and unlikely heroes emerge. Your bracket may be busted on the first day, but you sit spellbound by the action.—Every player who laced up the sneakers dreams of hitting the big shot.
Don’t miss a moment of March Madness! Download your 2025 NCAA Tournament printable bracket and stay on top of every game, matchup, and Cinderella story. Get yours now!
