The last two spots of the Final Four were secured by the west coast with UCLA continuing its magical NCAA Tournament run and Gonzaga pushing it record to 30-0.

The 11^th-seeded Bruins edged top seed Michigan 51-49. UCLA became the fifth 11 seed to reach the Final Four (along with LSU in 1986, George Mason in 2006, VCU in 2011 and Loyola-Chicago in 2018). UCLA and VCU are the only two to make it from the First Four to the Final Four.

Michigan had three 3-point attempts in the final 11 seconds of the contest, but none of them fell. UCLA led throughout the game and opened up a nine-point lead early in the second half. The Wolverines scored the next eight and took a brief lead around the seven-minute mark.

The Maize and Blue were held to a season-low point total, almost 28 below their season average.

“Tonight it was our defense,” Mick Cronin said. “These guys are having the most fun they’ve ever had in their life in that locker room because they won. I told them I was going to teach them how to win… To find a way to beat them with defense the way we did tonight, obviously extremely proud of our team.”

Johnny Juzang poured in 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting. Tyger Campbell was also in double figures with 11 points.

Hunter Dickinson tallied 11 points for Michigan.

As for Gonzaga, the Bulldogs defeated No. 6 USC 85-66. They are now the fourth team to enter the Final Four undefeated since the 1976 – when Indiana won the title as the last team to do so without any losses. The Zags join 1979 Indiana State, 1991 UNLV and 2015 Kentucky.

Despite the chase for perfection, Gonzaga saw the program’s second Final Four berth as a feat to celebrate.

“This is a heck of an accomplishment,” Mark Few said. “We’re going to take it and savor it for what it is. That doesn’t lessen our desire to win the next game or to win two more games, but we’re smart enough or wise enough to know that these are really, really special times. These are special accomplishments, and they need to be celebrated.”

Gonzaga is the first team in Division I history to reel off five straight 30-win seasons.

The Zags led the Trojans by 19 at halftime behind 54% shooting. Drew Timme netted 23 points. Jalen Suggs recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Corey Kispert amassed 18 points and eight boards.

The Mobley brothers led USC. Isaiah tallied 19 points and seven rebounds, and Evan chipped in 17 points and five boards.

The Final Four is now set. UCLA is the only program among the four with a national championship, and it has a record 11 titles. The Bruins and the Bulldogs are slated to square off in one national semifinal, while Baylor and Houston are scheduled to meet in the other.