Wednesday, November 17
Malibu, Calif.
7:00 p.m. PT
Pepperdine University
2-2,0-0WCC
72
vs
67
UC Davis
2-1,0-0Big West
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Davis | 30 | 37 | 67 |
| Pepperdine | 43 | 29 | 72 |
Houston Mallette and Mike Mitchell Jr.
Photo by: Charlie Blake
Men's Basketball Holds Off UC Davis, 72-67
11/17/2021 9:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MALIBU, California – Freshmen Houston Mallette and Mike Mitchell Jr. combined for 30 points and both hit a big basket in the final minute of regulation as the Pepperdine men's basketball team held off UC Davis, 72-67, in Firestone Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.
The Waves (2-2) led by 14 in the first half, but the Aggies (2-1) rallied for a three-point lead with about 5 1/2 minutes left in the game. A 10-0 run erased that deficit and the Waves held on from there, but needed some clutch baskets late.
BIG WAVES
A lay-up and a three-pointer by Zidek gave the Waves a 10-point lead at 29-19 with six minutes left in the first half. Senior center Victor Ohia Obioha (Owerri, Nigeria/Hillcrest HS) finished off a fast break to put Pepperdine up by 14 at 38-24 with 2:18 left. Pepperdine led 43-30 at halftime.
The Aggies began the second half on a 19-5 run to take their first lead since 3-0 at 49-48 with 11 minutes left. The Waves regained the lead and went up by four at 56-52 on a Zidek basket, but the Aggies came right back with seven straight points to go ahead 59-56 with 5:25 to play.
Ohia Obioha made four free throws during a 10-0 run that erased the Aggie lead and put Pepperdine up 66-59 with three minutes to go. But, it was just a three-point game heading into the final minute. Mallette beat the shot clock with a jumper from the right corner with 42 seconds left to put the Waves up by five at 68-63.
After the Aggies scored, the Waves again worked the shot clock down, and then Mitchell drained a short-range jumper with nine seconds to go, putting Pepperdine back in front 70-65. The Aggies made two free throws with five seconds to go, but Smith iced the game for Pepperdine with two free throws with four seconds remaining.
KEY STATS
Pepperdine plays its next three games down in Orange County, beginning Saturday (Nov. 20) at 6 p.m. at UC Irvine. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and there will be an audio-only WaveCasts at PepperdineWaves.com.
The Waves (2-2) led by 14 in the first half, but the Aggies (2-1) rallied for a three-point lead with about 5 1/2 minutes left in the game. A 10-0 run erased that deficit and the Waves held on from there, but needed some clutch baskets late.
BIG WAVES
- Freshman guard Houston Mallette (Alameda, Calif./Pacifica Christian HS) had a team-high 17 points. He made seven of 11 shots and was a perfect 3-for-3 on three-pointers.
- Freshman guard Mike Mitchell Jr. (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty HS) scored 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting.
- Junior forward Jan Zidek (Prague, Czech Republic) added 13 points and seven rebounds.
- Senior guard Jade' Smith (Oakland, Calif./St. Joseph Notre Dame HS) had 11 points and six rebounds.
A lay-up and a three-pointer by Zidek gave the Waves a 10-point lead at 29-19 with six minutes left in the first half. Senior center Victor Ohia Obioha (Owerri, Nigeria/Hillcrest HS) finished off a fast break to put Pepperdine up by 14 at 38-24 with 2:18 left. Pepperdine led 43-30 at halftime.
The Aggies began the second half on a 19-5 run to take their first lead since 3-0 at 49-48 with 11 minutes left. The Waves regained the lead and went up by four at 56-52 on a Zidek basket, but the Aggies came right back with seven straight points to go ahead 59-56 with 5:25 to play.
Ohia Obioha made four free throws during a 10-0 run that erased the Aggie lead and put Pepperdine up 66-59 with three minutes to go. But, it was just a three-point game heading into the final minute. Mallette beat the shot clock with a jumper from the right corner with 42 seconds left to put the Waves up by five at 68-63.
After the Aggies scored, the Waves again worked the shot clock down, and then Mitchell drained a short-range jumper with nine seconds to go, putting Pepperdine back in front 70-65. The Aggies made two free throws with five seconds to go, but Smith iced the game for Pepperdine with two free throws with four seconds remaining.
KEY STATS
- Pepperdine outshot UC Davis 48.1% to 44.4%. The first-half shooting was 66.7%-34.6% in the Waves' favor, but the second half was 53.6%-32.1% in the Aggies' direction.
- The Waves enjoyed a 36-26 rebounding edge.
- The Aggies outscored the Waves 22-9 on points off turnovers.
- UC Davis was led by 18 points apiece from Christian Anigwe and Elijah Pepper.
- This was the first-ever meeting between Pepperdine and UC Irvine.
- Mallette has made 14 three-pointers over the first four games of the season and is shooting 53.8% from beyond the arc.
- Graduate transfer forward Keith Fisher III (Los Angeles, Calif./Illinois State) led all players with a career-high six assists.
Pepperdine plays its next three games down in Orange County, beginning Saturday (Nov. 20) at 6 p.m. at UC Irvine. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and there will be an audio-only WaveCasts at PepperdineWaves.com.
🗣️ Hear from leading scorer @mallettehouston on the 72-67 win over UC Davis @WCChoops | #WavesWin pic.twitter.com/ULIAQvSWfF
— Pepperdine Men's Basketball (@PeppBasketball) November 18, 2021
🗣️ And from head honcho @CoachRomar...
— Pepperdine Men's Basketball (@PeppBasketball) November 18, 2021
On this win and going to Orange County this weekend ⬇️#WavesWin | @WCChoops pic.twitter.com/79xPiIKzMO
Team Stats
UCD
PEP
FG%
.444
.481
3FG%
.294
.500
FT%
.700
.789
RB
26
36
TO
14
19
STL
9
6
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
