Pepperdine-New Mexico State Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. - The Pepperdine men's basketball team kept rallying in the second half to get within one point of New Mexico State, but the Aggies held on for a 78-72 win on Friday night in Firestone Fieldhouse.

The Waves (3-9) were led by 19 points from sophomore guard Keion Bell (Los Angeles, Calif./Pasadena HS) and 18 points from junior forward Jonathan Dupre' (Houston, Texas/Collin County CC). Sophomore forward Dane Suttle Jr. (Los Angeles, Calif./Summit College Prep) added 11 points.

Jahmar Young (27) and Jonathan Gibson (24) of New Mexico State (4-6) scored 51 of the Aggies' 78 points and were their only two players in double-figures.

The Waves broke out to leads of 9-3 and 14-8 as Bell scored 10 points in the first five minutes. But the Aggies went on a 21-4 run over about an eight-minute period (Gibson scored 10) and took their largest lead of the game at 29-18 with 7:30 to play.

Pepperdine had a strong finish to the second half, however, and pulled back to within three points at 38-35 at the break after sophomore guard Lorne Jackson (Simi Valley, Calif./Simi Valley HS) nailed a three-pointer with 38 seconds left.

The Waves closed the deficit to one point three times in the second half: at 46-45 with 15:53 to play after a putback by Dupre', at 59-58 with 8:50 to play after a three-pointer by Suttle and at 61-60 with 6:29 to play after two free throws by freshman forward Tanner Kerry (Sydney, Australia/Cranbrook School).

But after the Waves pulled within one point on that last occasion, Young had five points as part of an 8-0 run that boosted the New Mexico State lead to 69-60 with a little more than four minutes remaining. Pepperdine got no closer than four points the rest of the way.

NMSU had a 50.0%-37.3% edge in shooting, while the Waves hit more three-pointers (11 to nine) and had the rebounding advantage (41-39).

Kerry had season highs of seven points, eight rebounds and 21 minutes for the Waves.

Pepperdine gets back into action quickly with two games prior to Christmas: Monday (Dec. 21) at UC Irvine at 7 p.m. and Wednesday (Dec. 23) vs. Utah at 7 p.m. in Firestone Fieldhouse. Fans can catch the games and listen to Al Epstein's broadcast at www.pepperdinesports.com with a subscription to Wave Casts.