Pepperdine University
Life Pacific
Murray, Udenyi Lead Waves Over Life Pacific
11/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MALIBU, California -- Lamond Murray Jr. had another big game with 28 points and Amadi Udenyi scored a career-high 17 as the Pepperdine men's basketball team held off Life Pacific, 85-79, on Thursday night in Firestone Fieldhouse.
Senior forward Chris Reyes (La Verne, Calif./Damien HS./Utah) and freshman forward Craig LeCesne (Oxie, Sweden/St. James School) both picked up their first career double-doubles to help the Waves improve to 3-0 on the season, the third time in four years that Pepperdine has been unbeaten after three games.
Because of rule differences between the divisions (Life Pacific is a member of the NCCAA), Pepperdine is counting this as an official game while Life Pacific is considering it an exhibition.
Murray (Los Angeles, Calif./Bishop Montgomery HS), a senior guard, came into the contest averaging 28.0 points per game and was coming off a career-high 33 against Weber State on Tuesday. Tonight, he shot 11-for-15 from the field to go with seven rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots.
Udenyi (Oakland, Calif./De La Salle HS), a senior guard, surpassed his previous career best of 16 points with two late free throws. He also had seven assists, six rebounds and four steals.
Reyes, a graduate transfer from Utah, contributed 13 points, a career-high-tying 10 rebounds and a career-best five blocked shots. LeCesne had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Despite the strong individual efforts and final shooting totals that tilted in the Waves' favor -- 49.2% to 37.0% overall -- Pepperdine had a hard time putting Life Pacific away.
The Waves took their biggest lead of 15 points twice in the second half, the last time at 73-58 with 8 1/2 minutes to play. But the Warriors came all the way back and tied the contest at 79 with 1:40 left, then had multiple shots to take the lead.
Udenyi made two free throws with one minute remaining to put Pepperdine back on top, 81-79. After a defensive stop, the Waves pushed the ball up the court and Murray finished a fast-break lay-up. Murray then had two blocked shots on the Warriors' next possession, and Udenyi iced the victory with two more free throws with 18 seconds left.
Pepperdine had advantages of 47-39 in rebounding, 50-28 with points in the paint and 23-7 in fast-break points. The Warriors stayed close thanks to fewer turnovers (nine to 13) and 11 three-pointers. Life Pacific's top scorer, Ramez Michail (22 points) fouled out with 3:55 to go.
Pepperdine heads out on the road for the first time this season with three games in the Lone Star Showcase, which will be held between Monday and Wednesday (Nov. 21-23) in Cedar Park, Texas. The Waves will take on Central Michigan (5:30 p.m. PT on Monday), Little Rock (5:30 p.m. PT on Tuesday) and St. Bonaventure (3 p.m. PT on Wednesday). There will be audio-only broadcasts via WaveCasts with Al Epstein on the call, and there will also be live video on YouTube.
