Waves Roll Over Nevada Reno, 100-69

A dunk by Pepperdine’s David Brittain was the capper Monday night as the Waves cruised to a 100-69 win over Nevada Reno before 1,454 fans at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu. Brittain’s basket gave his team 100 points.

The victory improved the Waves’ record to 3-1, while Nevada Reno dropped to 0-4.

After trailing, 5-4, Pepperdine forward Eric White started hitting, and the Waves started pouring it on and got out to a 49-32 lead at halftime.

The Wolfpack, led by the shooting of Dwayne Randall, closed to within nine points in the second half, trailing, 53-44, with less than four minutes gone in the second half. But the Waves regrouped and pulled away.

Both teams used zone defenses, but the Waves shot a little better. And Pepperdine was getting second and third shots to the Wolfpack’s one.

The Waves made 59% of their shots from the floor (46 of 78), while the Wolfpack hit 54% (32 of 59). Pepperdine also won the rebound battle, 41-22.

Nevada Reno forward Randall scored a game-high 26 points. Five Waves scored in double figures: White with 18, Jon Korfas 16, Brittain and Anthony Frederick 14 apiece, and Grant Gondrezick 13.

Dwayne Polee, usually Pepperdine’s top scorer, had only nine points. But he came out of the game with 2:40 remaining after he drove to the basket, made a layup and then crashed into Randall, who was called for a blocking foul.

Polee collapsed in pain and left the game. He played only briefly at the start of the second half. Pepperdine trainer T.J. Byrne said that Polee bruised his lower back but should be ready when Pepperdine plays host to UC Irvine Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Pepperdine Coach Jim Harrick said there are several things his team likes to do against a zone, including going to Korfas in the wing and to White in the middle. Korfas, shooting mostly 20 footers, was 7 of 8 from the field. White made 9 of 17.

Harrick said that was the most consistent 40 minutes the Waves had played this season. “I enjoyed it,” he said. “Everybody got to play, and everybody played well.”

Nevada Reno Coach Sonny Allen substituted freely in the first half. When asked why, he said: “We usually substitute, and when the kids are not playing well you’ve got to try something else.”