MEN

*PEPPERDINE (16-5, 6-0) at GONZAGA (16-5, 6-0), 7--This battle for first place in the West Coast Conference matches teams with eight-game winning streaks as well as identical records. Defending WCC champion Gonzaga shot 61% against Portland in its most recent game. Forward Richie Frahm, one of four starters back from the Bulldogs’ 28-7 team that reached the Final Eight in the NCAA tournament last season, averages 17.4 points. Matt Santangelo averages 12.8 points and 6.8 assists and Casey Calvary averages 12 points. Pepperdine rallied from halftime deficits to defeat San Francisco and Santa Clara last weekend. The Waves count on balanced scoring from Brandon Armstrong (13.7 ppg), Tommie Prince (10.0), Tezale Archie (9.8), Kelvin Gibbs (9.8) and Nick Sheppard (9.0). Archie, a senior point guard, averages 6.1 assists and leads the WCC with 50 steals. Gonzaga has won 18 in a row at Martin Centre, including seven this season, with its last home loss coming against Pepperdine, 65-64, in 1998. Pepperdine is 8-4 on the road.