Pepperdine University
Long Beach State
Raines' Game-Winner Lifts Waves Over LBSU, 77-75
12/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Pepperdine-Long Beach State Box Score 
MALIBU, Calif. -- Jett Raines' tip-in with 3.7 seconds left gave the Pepperdine men's basketball team a thrilling 77-75 victory over visiting Long Beach State on Wednesday night in Firestone Fieldhouse.
The Waves (5-4) led by four at 75-71, but Long Beach State (5-6) got a basket by Nick Faust with 30 seconds left, and then forced a turnover on a full-court press, leading to a game-tying dunk by Faust with 18.9 seconds left.
The Waves worked the clock down and missed their first shot, but Raines (Coppell, Texas/Coppell HS) was first to the ball and tipped it in for the go-ahead basket. A last-gasp three-point attempt from just past halfcourt was off the mark.
Pepperdine won its third straight game behind 18 points from junior guard Lamond Murray Jr. (Los Angeles, Calif./Bishop Montgomery HS), a season-high-tying 16 points by Raines and 14 points and 10 rebounds from senior forward Stacy Davis (Laveen, Ariz./Fairfax HS). It was Davis' third double-double of the season.
"I'm excited about the win," Pepperdine Coach Marty Wilson said. "I was nervous for a span of time. Defensively we made a lot of mistakes. But more importantly, our guys did not quit.
"I challenged our two seniors -- Stacy and Jett -- at halftime. I thought they were awful in the first half. They were 2-for-10 in the first half and 10-for-13 in the second half. So they responded, and I knew they would because they are experienced and good players. That's the thing I'm most proud of; they were leaders when we needed them."
The Waves shot 51.7% for the contest and went 9-for-20 (45.0%) on three-pointers. Long Beach State's percentages were a bit lower (49.2% overall, 6-for-20 and 30.0% on threes) but the 49ers kept things close thanks to free throws (the Waves went 6-for-15, 40.0%) and turnovers (both teams had 14 but LBSU had a 21-11 edge in points off turnovers).
Murray had 12 of his points in the first nine minutes as the Waves jumped out to an 18-12 lead. Three-pointers by sophomore guard A.J. Lapray (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS/Oregon) and junior guard Amadi Udenyi (Oakland, Calif./De La Salle HS/St. Thomas More) made it 24-13 with 7:56 to go in the first half (the Waves' largest lead of the game).
It was 29-20 with 3 1/2 minutes to go and the Waves had yet to commit a turnover. But the first four turnovers came in succession and the 49ers ran off eight straight points, and Pepperdine eventually went into halftime with a 32-31 lead.
Both offenses picked up in the second half, as the Waves shot 63.3% from the field and the 49ers were at 56.7% after the break. The 49ers took their first lead of the game early in the half and their biggest lead of the contest at 38-34 after a Branford Jones three-pointer.
It went back and forth for a while, and LBSU's last lead came at 53-52 with 11 minutes left. The Waves then went on a 10-2 run to go back in front 62-55 with 8 1/2 minutes to go.
The teams traded points and the Waves maintained a three-to-five-point lead for the next five minutes, though Long Beach State made it a one-point game at 72-71 with three minutes left. On the next possession, three offensive rebounds gave Pepperdine extra opportunities, and Raines provided the first of two big tip-ins down the stretch with 1:57 left, putting the Waves back up by three at 74-71.
A key defensive moment took place soon after, as a turnover led to what looked like was going to be an easy 49er basket, but sophomore guard Shawn Olden (Tulsa, Okla./Union HS) ran back and blocked the lay-up attempt. Long Beach State got the offensive rebound, but Olden then drew a charge with 1:24 to go.
Lapray contributed a career-high-tying nine points (making three of four three-pointers). Junior guard Jeremy Major (Pasadena, Calif./Maranatha HS) added six points, six rebounds and three steals.
The 49ers got 14 points from Faust, 11 from Gabe Levin and 10 from Jones.
Pepperdine next travels to face Ball State on Saturday (Dec. 12) at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Fans can listen to the game via WaveCasts with Al Epstein on the call at PepperdineSports.com, and it will also be shown on ESPN3.
