Gonzaga Defeats Georgia 89-68 in NCAA Tournament Opener

In a dominant performance, eighth-seeded Gonzaga defeated ninth-seeded Georgia 89-68 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, marking Gonzaga's 16th consecutive opening-round win. Khalif Battle led the Zags with 24 points, supported by Nolan Hickman and Braden Huff, who both added 18 points. Gonzaga's sharp shooting was evident as they connected on 12 of 20 three-pointers and shot 55% overall, while Georgia struggled with 35% shooting and committed numerous turnovers. Despite a strong showing from Georgia's Asa Newell, who scored 20 points, the team fell behind early and could not recover. The game highlighted Gonzaga's experience in the tournament, as they will face top-seeded Houston next. Georgia's season ends with hopes for future improvement after returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly a decade.