Recap and highlights: Gonzaga fires on all cylinders in 107-55 rout of Pepperdine
The first half started with Khalif Battle hitting consecutive 3-pointers and ended with Battle drilling a step-back jumper to beat the buzzer.
In between, Gonzaga piled up 19 assists – 10 by Ryan Nembhard in another record-setting performance – and through the first 13-plus minutes had more assists (15) than Pepperdine had points (13). Midway through the half, GU was shooting 75% and led by 20.
It was that kind of night for Gonzaga’s offense and Pepperdine’s defense as the Zags cruised to a 107-55 West Coast Conference victory Saturday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
The only questions after the first half: Would Nembhard eclipse Blake Stepp’s single-game record of 16, set in 2002 against Long Beach State? And would the Zags break the school’s single-game assists record of 32, set in 1980 vs. Loyola Marymount.
The answers: No and yes. Nembhard played a season-low 22 minutes and just eight in the second half with the lopsided score. He finished with 11 assists. The Zags broke the program record with 33 assists. The 33rd came when Emmanuel Innocenti fed Dusty Stromer for a 3-pointer with 4:50 remaining.
Youtube
Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Khalif Battle (99) dunks the ball off of an alley-oop from guard Nolan Hickman (11) during the second half of a college basketball game against the Pepperdine Waves on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Wash. Gonzaga won the game 107-55.g (Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review)
First half
19:41 – GU 3, Pep 0: Waves win the jump and Coulibaly misses a dunk. Battle gets the Zags on the board first with a 3-pointer. We’re underway at the Kennel.
16:41 – GU 12, Pep 0: Nembhard gets a steal and passes to Battle for a dunk. Zags open 5 of 5 from the field and the Waves call timeout.
Battle already has eight points, he opened with back-to-back 3-pointers.
15:28 – GU 14, Pep 4: Ike makes a layup, then gets a steal and Coulibaly fouls to signal the first media timeout. All Zags here early.
11:44 – GU 25, Pep 9: Waves turn it over at the U12 media timeout as things are getting out of hand quickly.
Zags have made 11 of 16 attempts from the field. Nembhard already has six assists. Battle leads with 10 points, Hickman adds seven.
8:25 – GU 38, Pep 13: Innocenti gets a steal and a dunk and the Waves call another timeout with GU on a 7-0 run.
Zags couldn’t be playing much better, dominating all aspects. GU 17 of 23 from the field (74%) and 4 of 8 on 3-pointers. Zags have nine players that have scored.
3:58 – GU 42, Pep 20: Zags hit a scoring lull after their red-hot start, still hold big lead at the U4 media timeout.
Halftime
Khalif Battle hit a step-back jumper at the buzzer to put an exclamation mark on a crushing first half as Gonzaga leads Pepperdine 55-26 at McCarthey Athletic Center.
Battle leads with 14 points, while Ryan Nembhard adds four points and 10 assists. GU shot 60% from the field in the first half and made 17 of their first 23 attempts.
GU outscoring Pepperdine 24-4 in bench points and 18-0 in fast break points.
Second half
19:46 – GU 58, Pep 26: Battle picks up where he left off in the first half with a 3-pointer on a kick-out from Ike. Battle up to 17 points.
16:04 – GU 66, Pep 33: “Gonzaga on another level tonight.”
That about sums it up, as the Zags go on an 8-0 run with a Battle ally-oop, Gregg layup and Ike dunk in quick succession. Pepperdine calls a timeout.
10:41 – GU 79, Pep 47: Hickman hits a 3-pointer and Innocenti is called for a foul on the other end to signal the U12 media timeout.
Hickman up to 15 points, trailing Battle’s 22. Zags going to cruise to the finish here.
6:11 – GU 91, Pep 52: Zags closing in on the century mark at the U8 media timeout. This one’s turned into an open gym session down the stretch.
4:11 – GU 100, Pep 52: Diagne hits two free throws to give the Zags 100 points. Joe Few checks in and Pepperdine calls timeout with GU on a 21-3 run. We’ll be back at the final buzzer with a full recap.
Starting five
Gonzaga starters: Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Khalif Battle, Ben Gregg, Graham Ike.
Pepperdine starters: Moe Odum, Stefan Todorovic, Danilo Dozic, Boubacar Coulibaly, Dovydas Butka.
Pregame
The Gonzaga men’s basketball team returns to action against Pepperdine tonight at McCarthey Athletic Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on KHQ and ESPN+ outside the region.
The Zags (19-7, 10-3 West Coast) used a balanced scoring effort and an impressive second half to beat San Francisco on Thursday and take over second place in the WCC.
The Waves (10-16, 4-9) beat San Diego on Thursday to snap a three game losing streak. Tonight’s game will be their third this week, they also lost to Loyola Marymount on Tuesday.
GU trails Saint Mary’s by two games in the conference standings with five games to play. The Zags close at WSU, vs. Saint Mary’s and at Santa Clara and San Francisco.
Series history
Gonzaga holds a 68-31 all-time series lead over Pepperdine and has won the last 48 meetings. The Zags haven’t lost to the Waves since Jan. 18, 2002.
Team stats
Individual leaders
Game preview
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