Pepperdine Waves gets first win in WCC after beating Pacific Tigers 93-78

Pepperdine Waves #20 Ethan Anderson (G) is looking for a teammate to pass the basketball to while being guarded by two Pacific Tigers players. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

MALIBU, CA - Jevon Moore scored 26 points, Michael Ajayi 21 points, and Houston Mallette 19 points to help the Pepperdine Waves beat the Pacific Tigers 93-78 at the Firestone Fieldhouse.

The Waves had their best night shooting, made 38 of 67 shots from the floor for 56.7 percent and from 3pt range 11 of 21 for 52.4 percent, dominated points in the paint 50 to 30, and 17 points off of turnovers while committing seven turnovers.

Former USC Trojans and Wyoming Cowboys Ethan Anderson's leadership was on display, dishing out eight assists to help stabilize Pepperdine's offense, and he shared his thoughts about his role on the team in the video below.

Pepperdine took a 4-0 lead in the first half with a layup by Jevon Porter. Pacific trailed 8-6 with a layup by Nick Blake.

Pacific tied the game 8-8 with a jump shot by Moe Odum. The Tigers would go up 14-13 with a three-pointer by Blake. Pepperdine took a 20-17 with a layup by Jalen Petri.

Porter knocked down a three-pointer from the right side of the court to give Pepperdine a 28-27 lead with 7:59 left in the first half. Ethan Anderson's layup had Pepperdine leading 38-31.

Pacific Tigers #1 Donovan Williams (G) is going up for a layup against Pepperdine Waves #12 Boubacar Coulibaly (F). Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

Pacific trailed 38-36 with a two-handed dunk by Lesome Hallums Jr. Pepperdine led by 10 points, 46-36 with a monster dunk by Ajayi. The Waves led at halftime 46-36.

Hallums Jr. had Pacific trailing 46-39 in the second half with a three-point shot. Mallette led the Waves in scoring 12 points, and Ajayi with 11 points.

Pepperdine would go up 56-41 with a three-pointer by Mallette. The Waves led 66-51 with a layup by Anderson.

Pepperdine Waves #1 Michael Ajayi (G/F) is taking a three-point shot from the left side of the court in front of the Pacific Tigers’ bench. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

Makia Richards fouled on his made layup and made his free throw to have Pacific down 68-55.

The Tigers trailed 86-70 after a three-pointer by Donovan Williams, and the Waves cruised the rest of the way to their 93-78 win, improving their record to (8-10, WCC, 1-2), and the Tigers fell to (6-12, WCC 0-3).

Williams and Hullums Jr. led Pacific in scoring both with 13 points and Blake with 11 points.

After the game, Lorenzo Omar, the head coach for Pepperdine, spoke about the factors for their victory against Pacific.