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Third-ranked Gonzaga holds off Waves’ rally attempt

Gonzaga forward Domantas Sabonis drives past Pepperdine’s Jake Johnson for two of his 18 points. (Associated Press)
Gonzaga forward Domantas Sabonis drives past Pepperdine’s Jake Johnson for two of his 18 points. (Associated Press)
By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com(509) 459-5585

MALIBU, Calif. – It had the feel of a comfortable Gonzaga victory.

Pepperdine had other ideas.

The third-ranked Bulldogs were outplayed in the second half and misfired from the free-throw line most of the night, but they held off Pepperdine 78-76 in front of 3,250 Thursday at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Junior forward Kyle Wiltjer, known for scoring points in a hurry, carried the Zags (17-1, 6-0 West Coast Conference) for long stretches of the second half. After the Waves trimmed Gonzaga’s lead to 47-46 with 14 minutes, 50 seconds left, Wiltjer rang up 16 points in the next 5 minutes.

Wiltjer’s scoring spree gave the Zags a 65-57 lead, but the Waves (11-6, 4-2) wouldn’t go away. Jett Raines and Stacy Davis combined for eight points to narrow GU’s lead to 71-70. Wiltjer delivered again, connecting on a tough bank shot over Jett Raines.

The Bulldogs made it hard on themselves, going 14 of 33 at the free-throw line. GU, which came in at 73 percent from the stripe, was 2 of 8 down the stretch – two of those misses by 88-percent free-thrower Kevin Pangos – before Pangos rebounded to hit a pair with 19 seconds left.

Davis’ three-point-play pulled the Waves within 77-75, but Wiltjer made two free throws with 6.1 seconds left. Gonzaga opted to foul with 1.9 seconds left to prevent a potential tying 3-point attempt. Jeremy Major made 1 of 2 free throws and Pangos grabbed the rebound to secure Gonzaga’s 10th consecutive victory.

Pepperdine’s comeback was fueled by center Raines (career-high 22 points), Davis (20 of his 21 points in the second half) and point guard Jeremy Major (nine assists). Five times Pepperdine pulled within one point. Major twice missed 3-pointers that would have tied the score.

Wiltjer paced GU with 24 points. Domantas Sabonis added 18 points and 12 rebounds.

In the first half, the Zags made their field-goal attempts (16 of 23, 70 percent) and their 3-pointers (4 of 6, 67 percent) but they couldn’t find the range from the free-throw line (4 of 13, 31 percent). The latter kept Gonzaga from opening up a sizable halftime lead.

The Zags built a 15-point lead with 9 minutes left in the first half, mainly because of Sabonis and Przemek Karnowski working over Pepperdine’s interior defenders and Silas Melson contributing nine points.

Gonzaga settled for a 40-31 halftime lead.

The start of the game was delayed 30 minutes because of snarled traffic from an accident on the Pacific Coast Highway. GU arrived at the gym at 6:55, roughly 35 minutes before the scheduled tip time.