MALIBU, Calif. (AP) – Khalif Battle scored 21 points, Braden Huff added 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting and No. 19 Gonzaga beat Pepperdine 89-82 on Monday night in the West Coast Conference opener for the Bulldogs.
 
Huff converted a three-point play that gave the Bulldogs the lead for good 7:10 into the first half, and Gonzaga (10-4, 1-0 West Coast Conference) led 50-32 at the intermission.
 
Freshman Jaxon Olvera scored a season-high 27 points on 12-of-21 shooting for Pepperdine (6-9, 0-2 WCC). Moe Odum added 24 points and eight assists.
 
After Battle made a layup to open the scoring in the second half and push Gonzaga's lead to 20 points, the Waves scored 22 of the next 26 points — including 13 points and three assists by Odum.
 
Gonzaga scored six in a row after that to keep Pepperdine at bay.
 
Key stat
Gonzaga has won 48 consecutive games against the Waves. Pepperdine's last win against the Bulldogs was an 88-79 home victory on Jan. 18, 2002.
 
Up next
Gonzaga plays Portland at the Spokane Arena in the Community Cancer Fund Classic on Thursday. Pepperdine hits the road to play at Saint Mary's on Thursday.