Pepperdine-CSUSB Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. - Sophomore guard Keion Bell helped rescue the Pepperdine men's basketball team by scoring the team's final 12 points of a 72-70 comeback victory over Cal State San Bernardino in Firestone Fieldhouse on Friday night.

Bell (Los Angeles, Calif./Pasadena HS) scored 18 of his game-high 22 points in the second half, including 12 in the final three minutes, as the Waves (1-2) won their first game of the season.

Cal State San Bernardino (0-1), traditionally a strong team at the NCAA Division II level, led by as many as 12 points in the second half before the Waves rallied. Pepperdine had a 39-37 lead with 17 minutes left in the second half, but recorded only one field goal over the next 9 1/2 minutes as the Coyotes pulled ahead 58-46.

Six points by sophomore forward Taylor Darby (San Marcos, Calif./Mission Hills HS) and three-pointers by sophomore forward Dane Suttle Jr. (Los Angeles, Calif./Summit College Prep) and freshman guard Joshua Lowery (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista HS) helped the Waves to close the gap.

Bell began his game-ending run with a three-point play with 2:56 left that cut San Bernardino's lead to 64-63. His dunk off a teammate's miss tied the game at 66 with 2:10 remaining, and his putback with 40 seconds left gave Pepperdine a 70-69 advantage. He then hit two free throws with 19.8 seconds left to give the Waves a three-point lead.

On the Coyotes' final possession, Aaron Hill made one of two free throws with 12.1 seconds left. San Bernardino got the offensive rebound, but Lawrence Tyson's jumper at the buzzer was off the mark.

Bell, who also had game highs of eight assists and seven rebounds, was one of five Waves in double-figures. Sophomore guard Lorne Jackson (Simi Valley, Calif./Simi Valley HS) had 12 points, Darby scored 11 along with seven rebounds and both Suttle and junior forward Mychel Thompson (Portland, Ore./Stoneridge Prep) had 10 points apiece.

Bell has scored 20 or more points in each of his three games this season. Though he was Pepperdine's leading scorer last season at 12.9 ppg, he had only three 20-point games all last year.

Jackson hit all four of his three-pointers in the first half, helping Pepperdine rally back from as much as a six-point deficit. His third one tied the game at 27-27, and his fourth one gave the Waves their largest lead of the half at 32-29. Still, the teams went into the break tied at 34.

Pepperdine had advantages of 48.1%-40.7% in field goals and 38-27 in rebounding.

After three games at home to start the season, the Waves play their next five away from Firestone Fieldhouse, starting at UCLA on Monday (Nov. 23) at 8 p.m. The game will be televised by FOX Sports West. Fans can also listen to Al Epstein's broadcast at www.pepperdinesports.com with a subscription to Wave Casts.