STOCKTON, Calif. – Tied with 7:30 remaining, the Pacific men's basketball program gave Gonzaga all it could handle but the Bulldogs hit enough shots down the stretch to take an 82-73 decision Saturday at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
 
The game came in front of a season-high crowd of 3,164 at home as Pacific (6-16, 0-7 WCC) led as late as the 8:16 mark of the second half after a lay-up by senior Nick Blake. Though, Gonzaga (15-5, 6-1 WCC) hit four critical three-pointers down the stretch and shot 16-of-27 (.593) from the field in the second half to survive the scare.
 
The game was part of a national Coaches vs. Cancer Week initiative benefiting the American Cancer Society. The Pacific men's basketball staff wore Suits & Sneakers to raise awareness.
 
Senior Donovan Williams led the Tigers with 14 points. Sophomore Moe Odum and junior Cam Denson were also key contributors with 12 points apiece. Odum also dished out six assists.
 
Coming off the bench to net 10 points was junior Tyler Beard. He was 3-of-4 from the field and 2-of-3 from long distance. Beard helped Pacific outscore Gonzaga 19-6 off the bench.
 
Gonzaga, which entered the night ranked No. 27 nationally in the NCAA NET Rankings, was guided by Graham Ike's 20 points. Nolan Hickman ended with 19 points after playing 40 minutes.
 
The Tigers led 7-2 early after back-to-back buckets by sophomore Makai Richards. Another basket by Richards kept them in front 11-6 at the 12:57 mark.
 
After the Bulldogs came back to tie it, Odum answered with a jumper to lead 16-14 with 9:50 remaining. Though, a late first half run by Gonzaga made it a 30-24 game with 3:10 to go.
 
Still down 34-30, Pacific ended the half strong to take the lead. It began with a pair of free throws by Beard and was capped by a three from Odum in the closing seconds to go up 35-34 at the intermission.
 

MOE ODUM TO END THE HALF WITH THE LEAD!

Pacific 35, Gonzaga 34#PacificProud pic.twitter.com/DZqRTuzeZ6

— Pacific Men's Basketball (@PacificMensBB) January 28, 2024

The game was tied 39-39 in the second half after a jumper in the paint by Denson. Though, the Bulldogs responded with an 8-0 run to jump ahead 47-39 with 15:06 left. Gonzaga increased it to 51-41 with 12:27 remaining.
 
The Tigers did not go away as free throws by Williams and Blake trimmed it to 53-49. It was followed by a three by Beard to cut it to 53-52 at the 8:55 mark. A lay-up by Blake completed an 8-0 run as Pacific led 54-53 with 8:16 left.
 
The game was even 56-56 when the Bulldogs hit three-pointers on three of their next four possessions to take a 66-58 edge with 4:50 to go. After a three by senior Judson Martindale, Gonzaga stayed hot with another distance shot and an old fashion three-point play to make it a 72-61 game with 3:12 remaining.
 
The Tigers will remain at home Thursday when they host Portland at 7 p.m. at the Spanos Center. Pacific will look to avenge a 78-64 defeat to the Pilots on the road earlier this season.
 
NOTES
- Pacific returned home after playing four of its previous five games on the road. The program is now 804-447 all-time at home and 341-214 in the Spanos Center.
 
- The Tigers forced 12 turnovers and only committed nine. Pacific has posted a positive turnover margin in five of seven WCC games this year.
 
- Pacific is now 5-2 this season when leading at the half. In three seasons under head coach Leonard Perry, Pacific is 25-10 when leading at half.
 
- Williams has scored in double-figures in six of seven league games this year. It was his 17th career double-digit performance and 11th this season. Williams logged 38:00 minutes, his second-most of the season only behind the 41:19 he played in an overtime game against San Francisco.
 
- Odum entered the night ranked second in the conference in assists per game with 4.7, and surpassed his season average with six. It was his 13th career double-figure scoring game and eighth this year.
 
- Denson registered his 15th career double-figure scoring outing and 11th this season. He grabbed three steals which matched a season-high and was 4-of-5 from the free throw line.
 
- Beard tallied his 20th career double-digit scoring performance and fourth this year. His 10 points marked a conference-high for him this season.
 
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#PacificProud