Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. - The No. 8 Pepperdine men's water polo team fell in a Golden Coast Conference matchup on the road at No. 6 Long Beach State, 7-4, on Friday night.

The Waves fall to 9-8 overall, 0-2 in GCC play with the loss, while the 49ers move to 11-5 overall, 1-0 GCC.

Sean Thomas led Pepperdine with two goals in what was a hard-fought defensive battle. Goalkeeper Zack Rhodes finished with 11 saves.

The Waves struck first, scoring late in the first quarter when Kenneth Keller found the back of the net with 3:22 left in the period. The 49ers would score the next four goals, however, grabbing a 4-1 lead with 1:58 left in the second quarter. Thomas got one back before the half for Pepperdine, making it a 4-2 game at the break.

The Waves cut it to a one-goal game with 2:16 in the third quarter, getting another goal from Thomas, but Long Beach State scored the only two goals in the fourth period.

Pepperdine will be back in action on Saturday when they host Loyola Marymount for a PCH Cup matchup at 5:30 p.m. That game can be seen live on WaveCasts via Campus Insiders.

No. 6 Long Beach State def. No. 8 Pepperdine, 7-4
PEP - 1 - 1 - 2 - 0 - 4
LBSU - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 7

Scoring
PEP: Thomas 2, Keller, Toth
LBSU: Bakic 2, Fujioka, Wicken, Lynde, Holden, McConnell

Saves
PEP: Rhodes 11
LBSU: Freeman 8