9Gonzaga 78 - 76 Pepperdine
Final
  for this game

No. 3 Gonzaga edges Pepperdine

Jan 16, 2015 - 6:59 AM Malibu, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Kyle Wiltjer scored 24 points, Domantas Sabonis posted a double-double and No. 3 Gonzaga held on for a 78-76 victory over Pepperdine on Thursday night.

Wiltjer added eight rebounds and four assists, while Sabonis finished with 18 points and a personal-best 12 rebounds off the bench.

Kevin Pangos had nine points and five assists for Gonzaga (17-1, 6-0 WCC), which has won 10 straight since its only loss at Arizona on Dec. 6.

Jett Raines scored a career-high 22 points and Stacy Davis had 21 for the Waves (11-6, 4-2), who came close to snapping a 26-game losing streak to the Bulldogs.

A turnover by Davis on the opening possession of the second half resulted in a Gary Bell Jr. 3-pointer and a 43-31 Gonzaga lead. Pepperdine responded with an 11-0 run and cut its deficit to 43-42 on a Raines layup.

The Waves were never able to grab the lead. Jeremy Major missed a 3-pointer with under two minutes remaining and Pepperdine down 73-70.

Pangos missed two free throws with 23.3 seconds left, but Gonzaga retained possession when the ball went out of bounds off Davis' hand. Pangos was fouled again and made both attempts for a 77-72 Gonzaga lead with 19 seconds to play.

The Waves closed within 77-75 on a three-point play by Davis and were still alive after Wiltjer split a pair at the foul line with 6.1 seconds left.

Rather than allow Pepperdine to attempt a three, Gonzaga fouled with 1.9 seconds remaining. After making his first attempt, Major deliberately missed the second, but the Waves couldn't get the rebound.

The Bulldogs were up by as many as 15 in the first half before settling for a 40-31 halftime lead.

Game Notes

The game started 30 minutes later than scheduled because an accident on the Pacific Coast Highway caused Gonzaga to arrive late to the Firestone Fieldhouse ... Gonzaga coach Mark Few recorded his 200th career West Coast Conference win ... Pepperdine hasn't beaten Gonzaga since Jan. 18, 2002.






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