Pepperdine Struggles to Beat Northern Iowa

Northern Iowa University, playing without one of its top players, gave Pepperdine all it could handle Saturday at Malibu.

“I tell you, we could never get rid of them,” Pepperdine Coach Jim Harrick said after his Waves escaped with a 94-86 win before 1,022 fans at Firestone Fieldhouse.

The Panthers, from Cedar Falls, Iowa, were playing without 6-10 center Scott Plondke, who was benched for missing a practice. Plondke is averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds.

Dwayne Polee scored a career-and game-high 28 points with 11-for-14 shooting for the Waves (11-2). He also reached 1,000 career points in three years at Pepperdine when he hit a free throw with four seconds to play.

Five other Waves scored in double figures. Anthony Frederick finished with 20 points, Jon Korfas added 16, and Eric White, Levy Middlebrooks and Grant Gondrezick each had 10.

Northern Iowa (4-5) was led by Randy Kraayenbrink, who scored a team-high 27 points, shooting mostly from 22 feet and beyond.

Three other Panthers scored in double figures. Sophomore center Greg McDermott added 16 points; Nathan Harris and Robbie Williams had 11 each.

The Panthers shot 56.9% (37 for 65), Pepperdine 56.5% (35 for 62). From the free-throw line, Northern Iowa made 12 of 13 (92.3%), and Pepperdine hit 24 of 29 (82.8%).

But Pepperdine outrebounded Northern Iowa, 37-24.