After a week off for the holidays, Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are set to return to the court on Sunday, December 28, facing off against the Pepperdine Waves. This matchup marks the beginning of Gonzaga’s final season in the West Coast Conference (WCC), a conference they have been part of for over four decades.
The anticipation for this game is heightened by the fact that Gonzaga will officially join the revamped Pac-12 conference on July 1, 2026, alongside teams like Oregon State, Washington State, and San Diego State, among others.
In their matchup against Pepperdine, Gonzaga aims to extend an impressive winning streak, having defeated the Waves 49 consecutive times since 2002. The Waves will certainly find it challenging to put an end to this domination, entering the game as nearly 30-point underdogs due to their rough patch this season. Currently, Pepperdine holds a record of 5-8, with just three victories against Division I opponents, including New Orleans, Bakersfield, and Rice. Unfortunately, they have also faced losses against teams ranked outside the top 200 in KenPom, such as Fullerton, Abilene Christian, and Long Beach State.
The Waves have averaged 74.5 points per game this season, ranking them 256th in the country, and are struggling with field goal accuracy at 44.4%. Additionally, they have been turning the ball over an average of 13.2 times per game, which could pose significant issues against Gonzaga’s formidable defense.
On the other hand, Gonzaga has been performing exceptionally well on both offense and defense, earning a spot in the top ten of KenPom’s adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency ratings, ranking at No. 4 and No. 9 respectively. They are amongst a select group of teams, including Michigan and Arizona, showcasing their overall strength this season.
A major challenge for Pepperdine will be trying to contain Gonzaga’s standout players Graham Ike, who averages 17 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, and Braden Huff, who leads the team with 19.1 points and a remarkable 66.7% shooting from the field. Together, they form one of the most potent scoring frontcourts in college basketball.
Gonzaga’s recent outside shooting has also been impressive, hitting 46.5% from three-point range in their last five games, a marked improvement from their earlier struggles. Players like Steele Venters and Adam Miller have been crucial in spreading the floor, while Emmanuel Innocenti and Mario Saint-Supery have contributed significantly from beyond the arc.
Fans can catch the action as Gonzaga takes on Pepperdine to kick off WCC play one last time. The game is scheduled for Sunday, December 28, at 5:00 p.m. PT at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, CA. It can be viewed on ESPN+ and heard on local radio at 96.1 FM, as well as through the Varsity Sports App. Gonzaga’s hopeful journey continues as they aim to maintain their impressive legacy in the WCC before moving on to new challenges in the Pac-12.