Field Level Media
Feb 16, 2020
Filip Petrusev recorded 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead No. 2 Gonzaga to an 89-77 victory over Pepperdine on Saturday night in West Coast Conference play at Malibu, Calif.
Corey Kispert made five 3-pointers while adding 19 points, six rebounds and five assists as the Bulldogs (26-1, 12-0 WCC) won their 18th straight game.
Joel Ayayi and Admon Gilder scored 11 points apiece as Gonzaga defeated the Waves for the 39th consecutive time. Drew Timme and Ryan Woolridge added 10 points apiece.
Colbey Ross registered 23 points and six assists and Kameron Edwards scored 22 points for Pepperdine (14-13, 7-6). Kessler Edwards added 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots, and Sedrick Altman had 11 points.
Gonzaga's Killian Tillie (ankle) sat out the contest. It is the ninth game the senior has missed due to knee or ankle injuries.
The Bulldogs shot 49.2 percent from the field and were 8 of 17 from 3-point range while winning their 39th consecutive WCC road game.
The Waves shot 46.3 percent from the field but were just 5 of 20 from behind the arc.
The contest was tied at 43 early in the second half before Kispert, Gilder and Ayayi each hit 3-pointers during a 13-2 burst to give Gonzaga a 56-45 lead with 13:26 remaining.
Woolridge's layup increased the lead to 63-51 with 9:57 left.
Ross buried a 3-pointer to pull Pepperdine within 71-63 with 7:14 to go. A short time later, Timme delivered a thunderous dunk to push the margin back to 12.
The lead reached 14 in the final minute as the Waves were unable to mount a late charge.
Petrusev had 20 first-half points as the Bulldogs led 40-36 at the break.
Pepperdine led 20-19 after two free throws by Kessler Edwards with 9:34 left in the first half before Petrusev scored the final seven points of a 9-0 burst to give the Bulldogs a 28-20 advantage with 7:30 remaining.
Gilder made two free throws to give Gonzaga a 32-23 lead with 5:47 left before the Waves went on a 13-3 surge. Kameron Edwards buried a 3-pointer to cap it with 1:32 left and give Pepperdine a 36-35 edge.
Kispert answered with a 3-pointer, and Woolridge added a layup to give the Bulldogs the four-point halftime lead.
--Field Level Media