Pepperdine Can’t Overcome Slow Start in Loss

Bakari Hendrix scored 17 points as Gonzaga crushed Pepperdine, 72-56, on Saturday at Spokane, Wash.

Gonzaga bolted to a 26-6 lead in the first 10 minutes and was never threatened. The Bulldogs led by as many as 26 points in the first half before taking a 43-21 advantage at intermission.

Gonzaga, 11-7 overall and 4-2 in the West Coast Conference, never let Pepperdine get closer than 11 points in the second half. It was the Bulldogs’ ninth consecutive victory over Pepperdine (4-14, 2-4).

Pepperdine got 14 points from Marc McDowell, 12 from Bryan Hill and 11 from R.J. Powell.

Pepperdine shot only 27% in the first half, making only eight of 29 shots.

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In other West Coast Conference games:

Portland 75, Loyola Marymount 64--Greg Klosterman scored 23 points and Chivo Anderson added 17 at Portland as the Pilots (8-10, 3-3) won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

John Anthony scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Lions (5-13, 2-4). Tim Kennedy had 17 points, but only two in the second half.

Portland led most of the game, but didn’t put the Lions away until midway through the second half.

Marlon Garnett scored 22 points as Santa Clara (10-8, 4-2) built a 24-point first-half lead and coasted to a 79-63 victory over San Diego (10-8, 2-4) at Santa Clara. . . . San Francisco (8-10, 3-3), went without a field goal for the first 12 minutes of the second half and St. Mary’s (14-5, 4-2) rallied for a 61-60 victory at Moraga, Calif.

BIG WEST CONFERENCE

Long Beach State 89, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 80--Guard James Cotton scored a career-high 31 points to lead the 49ers before 3,432 at the Pyramid.

The victory moved Long Beach (7-9, 3-3) into a three-way tie for second place in the Western Division with San Luis Obispo (9-9, 3-3) and Cal State Fullerton.

Guard Brandon Titus contributed 21 points and five assists for the 49ers, and guard Tommie Davis had 11 points and a career-high 10 assists. Guard Mitch Ohnstad led the Mustangs with 21 points.