MALIBU – Led by a
Stefan Todorovic double-double, the Pepperdine men's basketball team defeated Pacific for the second time this season at a final of 60-44 Saturday night.
The Waves (8-13, 2-6 WCC) had three players in double figures and every available team member was awarded playing time in the 16-point win.
BIG WAVES
- Stefan Todorovic (Belgrade, Serbia/SMU/USF) put together a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double along with three assists and two steals.
- Moe Odum (The Bronx, N.Y./Pacific)added 11 points, five boards, five assists and a steal.
- Dovydas Butka (Panevezys, Lithuania) tacked on 10 points and eight rebounds.
KEY STATS
- While not the Waves' hottest shooting night, Pepperdine outshot Pacific 33% to 28% from the field and 20% to 15% from beyond the arc.
- The Tigers committed 20 turnovers to Pepperdine's 13 while the Waves scored 20 points off of those turnovers.
- The Waves benefitted more from the paint at a rate of 28-22.
RECAP
Butka and Odum struck first for the Waves and Pepperdine enjoyed an 11-2 run to open the game. Pacific would string two buckets together here and there, but the Waves took the ball into the paint where Butka shined, earning free throws on several trips down the floor, while Pepperdine kept the Tigers from making a single three in the half. Both teams entered the bonus early resulting in a plethora of free throws to close out the first 20 minutes but it was Todorovic who ended the period with an and-one and put the intermission score at 34-20.
Todorovic came alive in the second half, scoring nine in the first six minutes of play and facilitating several fastbreak runs along with assists from Odum. The teams traded layups, but the Waves had the shooting advantage and continued to pound the ball inside. Pepperdine stretched the lead to as many as 24 but the game reverted to free throws as the clock dwindled, resulting in a 60-44 win for the Waves.
UP NEXT
The Waves head to San Diego Thursday night before returning to invite Portland to Malibu on Saturday.
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