Gonzaga beats UCLA 74-62, heads to 'Elite Eight' for first time since 1999

The Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrate after defeating the UCLA Bruins 74-62 during a South Regional Semifinal game of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at NRG Stadium on March 27, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

HOUSTON (AP) — Przemek Karnowski had 18 points and nine rebounds and second-seeded Gonzaga used a big run early in the second half to pull away for a 74-62 win over No. 11 UCLA on Friday night in the Houston Regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

The victory puts Gonzaga (35-2) in the Elite Eight for the second time, its first regional final since 1999.

The Bulldogs will play Duke on Sunday.

UCLA (22-14) opened the second half with a 6-0 run to get within 35-34. Gonzaga got going after that, scoring the next 12 points, thanks to the powerful inside game of 7-foot-1, 288-pound Karnowski to make it 47-34.

The Bruins, who lost in the Sweet 16 for the second straight year, were done in by a tough shooting night that included long stretches without scoring. They were led by Norman Powell's 16 points.