SPOKANE – Pepperdine brought a water pistol to a gunfight Thursday at the McCarthey Athletic Center, and it was only a matter of time before the Waves waved the white flag.
“They have a lot of weapons, and you don’t know which one is going to hurt you when,” Pepperdine coach Marty Wilson said after 25th-ranked Gonzaga blasted the injury-riddled Waves, 73-45, in a West Coast Conference matchup.
Six Bulldogs scored nine or more points. Freshman guard Gary Bell Jr., Gonzaga’s defensive whiz out of Kentridge High School, played a key role in a strong defensive effort and led the Bulldogs with a season-high 15 points.
“He’s made big shots for us all year,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said.
“Coach wanted me to stay aggressive,” Bell said, “because sometimes I get a couple shots and then wander off.”
Bell rarely lets up on defense, and he had two of Gonzaga’s 13 steals against Pepperdine. Bell helped force 20 turnovers, including several off presses and traps that helped Gonzaga expand a 15-12 lead midway through the first half into a 38-20 lead at halftime.
“I thought our defense was very, very good for 40 minutes tonight,” Few said. “We’ve put together a string of about four games now where our defense has been very, very good.”
The Bulldogs (12-2 overall, 2-0 WCC), who have won seven consecutive games overall and 21 in a row against Pepperdine, held the Waves to 28 percent shooting. Freshman guard Jordan Baker, a reserve, scored 10 points to lead Pepperdine (7-7, 1-2).
Gonzaga, which has won 11 WCC regular-season titles in a row, figures to face little competition in the league besides Saint Mary’s – where the Bulldogs play next Thursday – and possibly Brigham Young.
The Bulldogs, who blasted Portland, 90-51, in their WCC opener, face another projected WCC weakling Saturday when Santa Clara visits McCarthey (5 p.m., Root Sports).
Gonzaga’s starters (including Bell) played limited minutes, but Kevin Pangos and Robert Sacre scored 11 points apiece, and Elias Harris was good for 10 points and eight rebounds. Reserves Sam Dower and Mathis Moeninghoff contributed nine points each in solid performances.
Dower, Sacre’s backup at center, also plays forward. Dower got off to a slow start this season, but he’s averaging 13.0 points and 5.4 rebounds the past seven games.
“It’s all confidence, I guess,” Dower said. “I’ve had a good string of games. Shots are falling for me, my defense is getting better and also my rebounding.”
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