Gonzaga Tops Pepperdine 89-82 in West Coast Conference Opener

Khalif Battle's 21 points and late free throws secure Gonzaga's victory despite a strong second-half surge by Pepperdine.

Gonzaga secured an 89-82 win over Pepperdine in their first West Coast Conference matchup of the season, improving to 10-4 overall.
Khalif Battle led the Bulldogs with 21 points, including six critical points in the final minutes to seal the game.
Pepperdine's Jaxon Olvera scored a season-high 27 points, while Moe Odum added 24 points and eight assists in a strong offensive effort for the Waves.
Gonzaga built an 18-point halftime lead but faced challenges as Pepperdine outscored them 50-38 in the second half, cutting the lead to as few as four points late in the game.
The win extends Gonzaga's dominance over Pepperdine, marking their 48th consecutive victory against the Waves, a streak dating back to 2002.