Pacific @ Gonzaga preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 28, 2019 ) Gonzaga 86, Pacific 66

Top-ranked Gonzaga strives to record its 13th consecutive victory when it hosts Pacific on Saturday night in West Coast Conference play at Spokane, Wash. The Bulldogs have been hot while winning their last four games by an average of 35.5 points and will be looking to increase the nation's longest active homecourt winning streak to 35 games.

Gonzaga will likely be without Filip Petrusev due to an ankle injury suffered during last Saturday's 92-69 victory over BYU and the sophomore power forward leads the squad in scoring (16.1), rebounding (7.7) and steals (24). Senior forward Killian Tillie (12.7 average) could pick up part of the slack after equaling season highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds against BYU for his first double-double of the season. Petrusev's probable absence, along with the recent loss of freshman forward Anton Watson (shoulder), leaves the Bulldogs with a six-man rotation. Pacific has dropped three of its last four games after suffering a 74-60 home loss to BYU on Thursday night.

TIME: 10 p.m. ET. TV: ROOT Sports, WCC Network

ABOUT PACIFIC (15-7, 3-3 WCC): Senior wing Jahlil Tripp leads the squad in scoring (15.5) and rebounding (8.4) and is the lone player averaging in double digits. Tripp recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to BYU for his fifth double-double in the past eight games and seventh of the season. The Tigers' victory total is already better than the first three seasons of coach Damon Stoudamire's tenure when they won 11 his first season and 14 in each of the last two.

ABOUT GONZAGA (20-1, 6-0): Junior forward Corey Kispert (14.4) is the second-leading scorer and he was named WCC Player of the Week after averaging 17.5 points in two games and going 7-of-12 from 3-point range. Senior guard Admon Gilder also is playing well and averaged 16 points in the two wins to raise his output to 11 per game and he isn't bashful when it comes to the proficiency of his team. "We are so scary because we have so many pieces that can score," Gilder told the Spokesman-Review of Spokane. "The way we play together, the way we move the ball and the way everyone can make shots and get their own shots is scary. I think when we are able to play at the level we are playing at, we are scary."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Gonzaga has won the past 14 meetings and holds a 16-1 series edge.

2. Kispert has made a team-high 53 3-pointers and is shooting a solid 43.8 percent from behind the arc.

3. The Tigers are 4-3 on the road, with the losses coming against Hawaii, UC Irvine and Santa Clara.

PREDICTION: Gonzaga 85, Pacific 58