Pepperdine-Gonzaga Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. - #13 Gonzaga's hot start was the difference as the visiting Bulldogs defeated the Pepperdine men's basketball team, 72-54, on Saturday night in West Coast Conference action.

The Bulldogs (22-5, 10-2) hit their first 10 shots of the game and took a 28-11 lead a little more than eight minutes into the contest.

Pepperdine (7-21, 3-9) played Gonzaga almost evenly the rest of the way, and even outscored the Bulldogs in the second half, 35-32.

A near capacity crowd of 3,021 watched Pepperdine's final home game of the season.

Sophomore guard Keion Bell (Los Angeles, Calif./Pasadena HS) led the Waves with his second double-double of the season as he posted 17 points and 10 rebounds. Junior forward Mychel Thompson (Portland, Ore./Stoneridge Prep) added 11 points.

Gonzaga, which outshot the Waves 52.9% to 27.1%, got 18 points from Matt Bouldin, 13 from Elias Harris and 12 apiece from Robert Sacre and Steven Gray.

Pepperdine enjoyed a 47-37 rebounding edge, which included 26 offensive rebounds. The Waves had a 23-9 edge in second-chance points.

Pepperdine, which has no seniors and has a roster where 11 of the 15 players are underclassmen, was led in scoring by its sophomore class for the 27th time in 28 games. The Waves announced earlier this week that sophomore Dane Suttle Jr., who was averaging 7.7 points, will miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.

The Waves play their final two regular-season games on the road next week, as they visit Saint Mary's (Thursday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.) and San Diego (Saturday, Feb. 27, 6 p.m.). The WCC Tournament in Las Vegas follows the week after. Fans can listen to Al Epstein's broadcasts at www.pepperdinesports.com with a subscription to Wave Casts.