PULLMAN, Wash. – Four Waves accrued double-digit scoring and the Pepperdine men's basketball team led Washington State for almost 37 minutes but could not ice the game Saturday evening, resulting in an 87-86 loss.
 
BIG WAVES

• Stefan Todorovic (Belgrade, Serbia/SMU/USF) had his third 30-point game of the season while going 44% from beyond the arc, grabbing six rebounds, dishing out two assists and picking up two steals.
• Dovydas Butka (Panevezys, Lithuania) recorded a season-high 19 points to go with four boards and a steal.
• Moe Odum (Bronx, N.Y./Pacific) added on 18 points, going 4-of-5 from three-point range while pulling down seven rebounds and completing his double-double evening with 11 assists.
• Boubcar Coulibaly (Bamako, Mali/USC) tacked on 15 points while going spotless from the field (6-6) and grabbing a team-high eight boards to go with three blocks and three steals.

 
KEY STATS

• The Cougars fared better from the field at 50% but the Waves outshot WSU from long range at 45%.
• For only the third time this season, Pepperdine had fewer turnovers than its opponent in a loss (10-12) as the Waves earned 22 points off Wazzu mistakes.
• The Waves ran the floor extremely well, earning 23 points off the fastbreak compared to the Cougs' 11.

 
RECAP
Pepperdine opened the game strong with an early three from Moe Odum and capitalized on Washington State turnovers to build an early lead, going up early on the Cougs. Dovydas Butka ran the floor in transition and contributed multiple fast-break dunks, while Stefan Todorovic and Odum connected from beyond the arc to keep Pepperdine in front. WSU battled back behind the Cougs' inside scoring and a key three-pointer, eventually tying the game at 24 with just over eight minutes to play. Washington State capitalized in the paint, making 67% from close range while the team went dry from beyond the arc. Pepperdine's perimeter shooting, including a three-pointer from Odum and an immediate corner dagger from Zion Bethea late in the half, helped the Waves maintain a 45-42 advantage heading into the locker rooms.
 
Both squads traded buckets again to open the half, but Odum hit two fastbreak shots- a short jumper and a three in transition- to cushion the Waves with a nine-point lead in the first four minutes. Todorovic and Butka would continue the run and gun offense, enjoying a 6-0 run of their own to put Pepperdine up 10 before Washington State would begin chipping away but several drive and dump opportunities awaited Coulibaly courtesy of Todorovic to keep the good guys up by 12. With under five to play, the game resorted to free throws as both teams entered the bonus, but the Waves missed three of four charity shots and failed to ice it. Washington State ended the game on a 9-1 run and blocked the Waves' last attempt to drop Pepperdine 87-86.
 
UP NEXT
The Waves invite PCH Cup rival to Malibu on Tuesday evening before playing San Diego on Thursday and heading to Gonzaga Saturday.
 
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