Gonzaga beats Pepperdine in first game back at No. 1

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Drew Timme scored 19 points, Chet Holmgren had 18 points and 17 rebounds and Andrew Nembhard added a career-high 14 assists to lead top-ranked Gonzaga to an 86-66 win over Pepperdine on Wednesday night.

Timme threw down an alley-oop dunk on a pass from Nembhard just six seconds in, and it was that kind of game for both teams.

Gonzaga (22-2, 11-0 West Coast Conference) never trailed and has won 15 consecutive games since its last lost against Alabama in December.

The Bulldogs have also won 32 straight against WCC opponents, the longest conference winning streak in the country.

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Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) dunks over Pepperdine center Carson Basham (11) during an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/John McCoy)

"They could win the whole thing," Pepperdine coach Lorenzo Romar said. "They have size, they have scoring ability, they can guard. Holmgren’s obviously really good. Timme could be the player of the year. They have outstanding perimeter players."

Houston Mallette scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half for the Waves.

Six players scored for the Zags in a 14-2 run that built a 24-11 lead. Nembhard was distributing the ball with ease.

"I was just reading the defense and executing our plan," Nembhard said. "They were kind of pressuring me with two guys. Just reading the game and keeping it simple."

Pepperdine (7-21, 1-12) got nine points from Mallette in a 20-11 spurt that trimmed the margin to 57-49 in the second half. Timme answered with a three-point play inside and Gonzaga turned back the Waves.

"We got back to taking care of the