The Pepperdine men’s basketball team lost 83-69 to their rivals, the Gonzaga Bulldogs, in a home game on Thursday. Gonzaga is currently ranked 23rd in the Associated Press College Basketball Men’s Top 25 poll, and ranked as high as fourth earlier in the season.
Initially, it appeared as if it was going to be a long night for the Waves (4-17). The Bulldogs (14-4) got off to a quick 17-point lead and held the Waves scoreless for the first six minutes of the first quarter. However, Pepperdine responded and outscored Gonzaga during the final 34 minutes of the game.
“[The Waves] showed us they were not going to give up, no matter how much we were up,” Gonzaga forward Austin Daye said. “They have heart and they are a good team, but they are really young.”
Gonzaga guard Jeremy Pargo, added that Pepperdine “always plays hard. They showed a lot of perseverance staying with their offense and getting back into the game.”
Keion Bell led the Waves with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Mychel Thompson had 14 points, Mike Hornbuckle made four three-point baskets, and Taylor Darby had nine rebounds.
Josh Heytvelt sparked the Bulldogs with 25 points and nine rebounds. Austin Daye, the reigning West Coast Conference player of the week, had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Matt Bouldin added 14 points and 10 assists. Remarkably, the Waves held Pargo, the incumbent WCC Player of the Year, to zero points and only two assists.
The Waves have recently had a problem with slow starts. In their games last weekend, they allowed San Diego to take an early 13-2 lead, and Saint Mary’s to a quick 16-1 start.
“We cannot start games off like that,” Pepperdine guard Keion Bell said. “It is a sign of youth. We have a young team, and people are not mentally prepared to play. We need to realize this is not high school anymore.”
The Pepperdine fans, who received free orange T-shirts emblazoned with the image of Head Coach Tom Asbury and the phrase “Yes We Can,” were excited that the Waves played competitively against Gonzaga after the slow start.
“I really enjoyed watching [the Waves] play,” said 14-year NBA veteran Craig Ehlo, who announced the game for television. “When Gonzaga broke out on a 17-0 run, I thought Pepperdine would fold their tents and go away, but they did not. I think Coach Asbury has a lot to work with here, and they will be in a pretty good situation three years from now.”
On Saturday, the Waves lost to the Portland Pilots, 73-58, and again let their opponents take an early lead, with the Pilots (13-7) starting the game on a 12-2 run. Bell and Darby led the Waves with 12 points apiece.
Pepperdine will face Santa Clara in their next home game on Feb. 12.