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Pepperdine-CSUN Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. - Making his first start of the season, junior guard Atif Russell scored a career-high 19 points and sparked the Pepperdine men's basketball team to a 66-56 home victory over Cal State Northridge on Thursday night.

Russell (Katy, Texas/Seven Lakes HS) made five of six three-pointers, including three during a span of three minutes during the first half as the Waves (4-1) went on a game-changing run.

Pepperdine made a season-high 11 three-pointers on 21 attempts (52.4%), which was significantly better than its 9-for-33 (27.3%) on two-point attempts. The Waves finished with a 37.0% shooting percentage.

Pepperdine entered the week fifth nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense, and the Waves figure to only improve in the rankings after holding CSUN to an 0-for-11 showing from beyond the arc. It's the first time a Pepperdine opponent has been held without a three-pointer since March 10, 1999 (Colorado).

"We wanted them to shoot threes because we knew it wasn't their strong suit," Pepperdine Coach Marty Wilson said. "It hasn't been ours either, by the numbers, so they dared us to make shots, and we started making some. It was big performance by Atif. He sparked the team. He got in a rhythm and it got the team going."

Junior forward Jett Raines (Coppell, Texas/Coppell HS) nearly matched his season averages with 13 points and eight rebounds. Junior forward Stacy Davis (Laveen, Ariz./Fairfax HS) collected his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore guard Jeremy Major (Pasadena, Calif./Maranatha HS) contributed 10 points.

Russell actually didn't have the best of starts, as he drew two quick fouls and left the game. But after CSUN made the fifth tie of the first half at 18-18, Russell put the Waves ahead for good with a three-pointer with 4 1/2 minutes to go. He made two more as part of a 13-0 run that pushed the Waves' lead to 31-18, and they went into the break with a 31-20 advantage.

Russell had 11 points at halftime, already breaking his previous career high of 10 points set as a freshman against Central Michigan.

In the second half, CSUN closed the gap to as few as six points at 37-31, though the Waves would eventually take their biggest lead of 17 points at 62-45 with 2:42 to play after another Russell three-pointer.

CSUN (39.3%) finished with a slightly higher shooting percentage than Pepperdine and partly stayed in the game thanks to an 18-7 edge in points off turnovers.

The Matadors (2-7) lost their fifth straight game. Stephan Hicks led all scorers with 22 points.

The Waves are 4-1 for the second straight season. One more victory would give Pepperdine its best start after six games since the 2004-05 season.

Pepperdine plays again on Saturday (Nov. 6) at Cal State Fullerton at 6 p.m. Fans can listen to the game online via WaveCasts at PepperdineSports.com.