Gonzaga Earns WCC Berth

Pepperdine faced some big questions before its showdown with Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference tournament final Monday night.

After lackluster performances against lowly Portland and St. Mary’s in the first two rounds, could the Waves make a splash against the nation’s No. 6-ranked team?

Or would they ebb meekly under a red sea of deafening cheers from Gonzaga’s crimson-clad fans and a barrage of rainbow three-pointers from the Bulldogs’ expert marksmen, guards Dan Dickau and Blake Stepp?

For a half, Pepperdine had the right answers, but then Dickau and the Bulldogs stepped up for a 96-90 victory and the automatic NCAA tournament berth.

Dickau was held to two points in the first half, but he made eight shots in a row at one point in the second half and wound up with 29 points.

Dickau carried the Bulldogs back from a seven-point deficit, after Devin Montgomery’s three-point play gave Pepperdine a 61-54 lead with 12:37 to play.

Gonzaga, which won its 14th in a row, heads into the tournament with a 29-3 record. The Waves (22-8) must wait until Sunday to learn their fate, though they appear deserving of joining the 64-team field because of a demanding nonconference schedule, victories over UCLA, No. 22 USC and Gonzaga; having more than 20 wins and an RPI of 51.

Dickau, a 6-foot senior, capped his run of eight consecutive baskets by making a three-pointer while falling down and being fouled by Jimmy Miggins. He made the free throw to complete a four-point play and give Gonzaga an 83-72 lead with 5:21 left.

“Their big men gave us some hard screens, and [Dickau] got the looks he needed,” Miggins said. “He can shoot it, so he knocked them down.”

Miggins, perhaps mirroring the Waves’ frustration, pushed Dickau down late in the game and was called for an intentional foul. Dickau made one of two free throws for a 93-87 lead with 43.8 seconds left and possession to the Bulldogs.

“I feel we can get in and get a good seed, even though we lost tonight,” Miggins said. “I think we can play with anyone in the country.”

Pepperdine appeared up to the challenge in the opening minutes of the game. Despite committing turnovers the first three times they touched the ball, the Waves matched the Bulldogs basket for basket, kept Dickau and Stepp in check, and took a one-point halftime lead.

Gonzaga went ahead early behind center Cory Violette and forward Zach Gourde, a pair of 6-foot-8, 250-pounders who attacked the Waves’ interior defense. They combined for the Bulldogs’ first 13 points, and Stepp followed with a three-point basket for a 16-12 lead.

Pepperdine hung close behind junior guard Devin Montgomery, who made three three-pointers and scored 11 in the first half to help stake the Waves to a 45-44 halftime lead. Montgomery finished with 27 points.

Meanwhile, Dickau struggled. The WCC’s player of the year made only one of five shots, misfiring on both of his three-point attempts, and had only two points by halftime. Violette scored all of his 16 points in the first half, and Gourde had 13.

Pepperdine and Gonzaga shared the regular-season WCC title, losing only to each other in conference play. Pepperdine prevailed, 88-79, on Jan. 18 in Malibu, and Gonzaga won the rematch, 91-78, on Feb. 16 in Spokane, Wash.

Rebounding was a key in both games. In their victory, the Waves held a 47-33 rebounding edge, with more than half (19) coming on the offensive end. The next time, Gonzaga won the battle of the boards, 45-32. The Bulldogs entered the WCC tournament leading the nation with a plus-9.4 average rebounding margin.

Monday, the Bulldogs had a 43-37 rebounding edge, and they rode it into the NCAA tournament.