Gonzaga vs. Arizona: Score and Twitter Reaction from 2014 Regular Season

The third-ranked Arizona Wildcats overcame one of their toughest tests of 2014-15, posting a 66-63 overtime victory over No. 9 Gonzaga in an early-season slugfest with a March Madness feel.

Despite missing a game-winning chance at the end of regulation, Kyle Wiltjer led the way for Gonzaga with a game-high 15 points. Four starters from both sides finished in double figures, with Arizona's Brandon Ashley posting a team-high 14 points and hitting a crucial late jumper to tie it. 

Take a look at the final box score:

Team	1	2	OT	F
No. 9 Gonzaga	27	33	3	63
No. 3 Arizona	27	33	6	66

Arizona head coach Sean Miller congratulated his team and fans on Twitter after the big win:

"

What a win against a great Gonzaga team. Thanks to our fans for making McKale the best home court in the country! #APlayersProgram

— Sean Miller (@UACoachMiller) December 7, 2014"

A now-26-game home win streak for Arizona was jeopardized from the opening tip. The Bulldogs weren't shaken by the rowdy McKale Center crowd, having every answer defensively. But they never led by more than six, as the Wildcats held Gonzaga to 39 percent shooting and clawed back in it.

Arizona bounced back from shooting 32 percent in the first half to tie it up with 1:29 remaining in the game on Brandon Ashley's jumper. But Gonzaga's Wiltjer clanked a buzzer-beating attempt to win it, sending the game into overtime.

Despite the Wildcats jumping out to a 64-60 overtime lead, Gonzaga had a golden chance late. Arizona—up three points at the time—fouled Byron Wesley on a three-pointer. But Wesley air-balled his first attempt, en route to missing all three and sealing the Arizona victory.

Gary Parrish of CBS Sports made it clear that despite the late blunder, both squads are for real:

It was the worst possible time for an air ball, but CBS Sports' Doug Gottlieb sympathized with the shooter:

Saturday's game may not have even been the No. 1 priority for Arizona fans, with the football team facing Oregon in Friday's Pac-12 title game. But the importance of the top 10 showdown wasn't lost in McKale Center or among the dozens of NBA scouts who showed up, per ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman:

Those scouts looking for offensive juggernauts didn't have much to watch early, with stingy defense rising to the occasion on both sides. But while Arizona's strong defensive play was to be expected, Gonzaga's efforts made every basket tough for the Wildcats in the early going.

As ESPN's Jay Bilas noticed, the Bulldogs packed it in and furiously slipped around screens to stay in front of Arizona's athletic slashers:

The Bulldogs' early defensive dominance didn't taper off as the first half wore along. Instead, they maintained the energy level, which caused some of the Wildcats' offensive leaders to struggle. 

None faced more early issues than freshman and leading scorer Stanley Johnson, who went just 1-for-4 with two points in the opening half. ESPN's Jeff Borzello couldn't help but notice how Johnson's offensive struggles carried over to the other side of the court:

In the midst of their worst shooting half of the season, the Wildcats avoided the panic and stayed poised with a suffocating defense of their own. Gonzaga never led by more than six early, and thanks to a late 8-2 run spurred by Ashley and Elliott Pitts, the Wildcats got back to level at 27-27 entering the halftime break.

Prayers from three-point range helped Arizona stay in it, per ESPN Stats & Information:

Gonzaga made it clear that things wouldn't be any easier in the second half, starting on a 10-4 run and holding Arizona to two made baskets in the first five minutes. But the Wildcats answered, making four straight baskets in a row—a vast difference from their early struggles.

As Matt Moreno of Rivals.com noticed, the game finally was flowing for the first time:

Every time Arizona got back within a possession or so, though, Gonzaga had the answer. When the Wildcats cut the deficit to 43-42, the Bulldogs pulled out to a 50-45 lead. When Arizona again pulled to within a possession with 5:50 to go, Karnowski and Wiltjer laid in easy baskets to extend the gap again.

But when it counted most, the 'Cats finally pulled level. They clawed back once again, and with 1:29 to go, Ashley nailed a deep jumper to tie it at 60 apiece.

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Countless miscues doomed the end of regulation, as Johnson traveled with 29 seconds left and Gonzaga fumbled its last possession. Wiltjer got a fall-away look at a game-winning three, but the resulting brick sent it to overtime.

Only one shot fell for Gonzaga in overtime, a Kevin Pangos three-pointer. But Arizona's T.J. McConnell himself scored all six Wildcat points in the extra frame, proving to be the difference when Wesley couldn't convert at the line.

There really could've been many different endings to this instant classic with how close it was, which had folks like ESPN's Andy Katz begging for a March rematch:

Gonzaga has to be kicking itself at the missed opportunity. With a paltry West Coast Conference schedule, the Bulldogs don't have another Top 25 foe currently left on the season slate.

The Bulldogs undoubtedly showed they belong among the nation's elite, but making a move for a No. 1 seed will be nearly impossible with no real chances to notch big wins from here on out. This close defeat will permeate around the program for quite some time, especially late in the year when its NCAA tournament resume is being dissected. 

As for the Wildcats, they have a lot more work cut out for them, despite it being a down year for the Pac-12. But the Gonzaga and San Diego State teams they have already topped were as good as they will face all season.

It would be beyond premature to suggest Arizona can run the table from here on out, but grinding out a victory on Saturday in dire circumstances shows this team has what it takes for a Final Four run.