Gonzaga beats Pepperdine 86-66 in first game back at No. 1

Updated Feb. 17, 2022 1:34 a.m. ET

Associated Press

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — Drew Timme scored 19 points, Chet Holmgren had 18 points and 17 rebounds and Andrew Nembhard added a career-high 14 assists to lead top-ranked Gonzaga to an 86-66 win over Pepperdine on Wednesday night.

Timme threw down an alley-oop dunk on a pass from Nembhard just six seconds in, and it was that kind of game for both teams.

Gonzaga (22-2, 11-0 West Coast Conference) never trailed and has won 15 consecutive games since its last lost against Alabama in December.

The Bulldogs have also won 32 straight against WCC opponents, the longest conference winning streak in the country.

Houston Mallette scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half for the Waves.

Six players scored for the Zags in a 14-2 run that built a 24-11 lead.

Pepperdine (7-21, 1-12) got nine points from Mallette in a 20-11 spurt that trimmed the margin to 57-49 in the second half. Timme answered with a three-point play inside and Gonzaga turned back the Waves.

Pepperdine’s last win over Gonzaga was in 2002 in Malibu. The Bulldogs have won 42 straight games against the Waves.

About 12 NBA scouts were at the game.

BIG PICTURE

Gonzaga: Playing their first game since returning to No. 1 in the nation, the Bulldogs did exactly what they were supposed to in winning on the road against a team they’ve dominated over the last two decades. But they allowed the Waves to make a big run to cut a 21-point lead to eight in the second half.

Pepperdine: The Waves can chalk this up to a good learning experience for everyone, including their six freshmen. Pepperdine didn’t come close to allowing 117 points, as it did in Spokane last month, so that was an improvement.

UP NEXT

Gonzaga: Hosts Santa Clara on Saturday night.

Pepperdine: Plays at Portland on Saturday.

___

More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25