Batista Helps Gonzaga Avoid Upset

Gonzaga’s J.P. Batista played one of his worst games of the season but came up with one of his biggest baskets to keep the 14th-ranked Bulldogs from suffering a major upset against the team at the other end of the West Coast Conference standings.

Batista’s three-point play with 9.1 seconds remaining gave Gonzaga a four-point lead against Loyola Marymount, and the Bulldogs fended off a stout challenge from the Lions, 61-58, before a sellout crowd of 4,337 at Gersten Pavilion on Saturday night.

Batista, a 6-foot-9 junior center, scored his only points when he grabbed a loose ball and scored. His free throw after being fouled by Loyola’s Chris Ayer gave Gonzaga a 60-56 lead.

“That was a horrible game personally,” said Batista, who averages 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds. “But I was able to come in there in the last second and help my team. That’s what it’s all about.”

Gonzaga improved to 19-4 overall and 9-2 in the WCC, increasing its first-place lead to 1 1/2 games over St. Mary’s. But the Bulldogs have lost to the Gaels and San Francisco on the road and were pushed until the final half minute at Pepperdine on Thursday night.

It was no different against the Lions (11-13, 3-8), who fell into last place in the conference. Damian Martin made two free throws with 3.7 seconds left and, after a free throw by Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison, Martin tried a three-pointer at the buzzer that hit off the front rim and the backboard before falling out.

“All losses are hard to handle, but particularly when you play so well and get so close,” Loyola Coach Steve Aggers said.

The Lions’ defense gave Gonzaga’s normally precise attack fits. They forced 20 turnovers, 12 of them on steals, and held the Bulldogs to 42% from the field.

But Gonzaga grabbed 50 rebounds to Loyola’s 30. Ronny Turiaf had a game-high 20 points, 11 rebounds and tied a career high with six blocks.

Morrison had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

“Our rebounding saved us because we turned the ball over way too many times,” Bulldog Coach Mark Few said.

Despite shooting 34.8%, Loyola tied the score, 54-54, on a layup by Wes Wardrop. Morrison countered with a three-pointer. Matthew Knight had a chance to tie the score but missed a free throw after scoring inside and getting fouled. The Lions missed eight of 15 from the line.

“That hurt us for sure,” Aggers said of the foul shooting. “If we had made a couple more perimeter shots, we’d have been in great shape.”

Eric Stephens

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Pepperdine 72, Portland 66 -- Yakhouba Diawara scored 23 points, including 17 in the second half, in a home victory for the Waves (14-12, 4-7).

Portland (15-11, 4-7) opened the second half with a 9-0 run to take a 42-35 lead, but the Pilots made only one basket over the final 4:55. Pepperdine closed with a 19-4 run.

Portland missed its last eight shots, including four three-point attempts on its final possession.