MALIBU, California – Led by Eric Cooper Jr.'s 20 points, Lorenzo Romar's first game back as head coach of the Pepperdine men's basketball team was a successful one as the Waves blitzed Cal State Dominguez Hills, 100-66, in Firestone Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.
 
The Waves (1-0) posted their most lopsided win in a season opener since 1993-94. Due to differences in NCAA rules, the Division II Toros were considering this an exhibition game.
 
BIG WAVES

• Senior guard Eric Cooper Jr. (Ontario, Calif./St. Anthony HS/Nevada) made his first seven shots and finished 7-for-9 from the field, along with a career-high six three-pointers on eight attempts.
• Sophomore guard Jade' Smith (Oakland, Calif./St. Joseph Notre Dame HS) scored a career-high 18 points 7-for-8 shooting, while also picking up six rebounds and four assists.
• Junior forward Darnell Dunn (Kinston, N.C./Kinston HS/Miami Dade JC) finished one point shy of his career high with 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting. He also had six rebounds.
• Sophomore guard Colbey Ross (Aurora, Colo./Eaglecrest HS) had a strong all-around game, accumulating 15 points, seven assists, five rebounds and a career-high five steals. He made nine of 10 free throws.
• Freshman forward Kessler Edwards (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Etiwanda HS) had a terrific debut, getting eight points, 13 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals.
• Freshman center Jackson Stormo (Santa Barbara, Calif./San Marcos HS) had eight points off the bench.

 KEY STATS

• The Waves shot 55.6% from the field compared to 31.7% for the Toros.
• Pepperdine made of 11 of 23 three-pointers (47.8%), while CSUDH was 9-for-35 (25.7%).
• The Waves outscored the Toros 42-20 in the paint.

 PLAY BY PLAY
 
An early 10-0 run put the Waves ahead 13-3. At 25-20, the Waves went on an 18-4 run, making it 43-24 with less than four minutes to go in the first half. Three-pointers by Cooper extended the lead to 20 points for the first time at 46-26, and then again for the Waves' largest lead of the first half at 21 at 49-28. It was 51-33 at halftime.
 
The lead continued to grow in the second half, hitting as many as 40 points multiple times late.
 
NOTABLES

• Pepperdine is now 3-0 all-time against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
• Junior forward Kameron Edwards (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Etiwanda HS) sat out this game while recovering from a concussion.
• Eight freshmen made their Pepperdine debuts and scored a total of 30 points.

 UP NEXT
 
Pepperdine hosts CSUN on Saturday (Nov. 10) at 7 p.m. The game will be shown on TheW.tv with Al Epstein on the call.