The Pepperdine Waves face their toughest test so far this season Thursday night as they face the No. 25 Gonzaga Bulldogs in a West Coast Conference battle in Spokane. The Waves have split their first two conference games, while the Bulldogs are 1-0 thus far in WCC play. Here are the relevant details of Thursday's contest:
Records: Pepperdine (7-6, 1-1), Gonzaga (11-2, 1-0)
Location: McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington
Time: 6 p.m. PST
TV: Root Northwest
Going Streaking: Pepperdine has lost its last 20 games against Gonzaga, and has lost in each of their last 13 meetings in Spokane, last netting a road win against Gonzaga in 1998.
Ranked Foes: Pepperdine hasn't had a win against a ranked team since November 27, 2004, when they beat No. 20 Wisconsin. Since that victory, Pepperdine has lost 14 straight games against ranked teams, including eight games against Gonzaga.
Double-Doubles: Seniors Taylor Darby (12.1 points per game) and Corbin Moore (10.8 ppg) are the top two scorers for the Waves, and have all seven double-doubles for Pepperdine this season. Moore has four double-doubles and leads the Waves with 8.8 boards per contest, while Darby has three double-doubles and has scored in double figures in five straight games.
Freshman Sensation: Gonzaga is led in scoring and assists by freshman guard Kevin Pangos, who has averaged 14.8 points and 3.5 assists per game so far this season. He has excelled in outside shooting, hitting 34 three-pointers in 13 games while shooting 41.0% from beyond the arc.
Defense: Pepperdine has allowed 61.5 points per game this season, which is second best in the WCC. They have allowed opponents to shoot just 40.3% from the field this season.