Pepperdine Defeats Australia in Exhibition

Pepperdine took over in the second half Tuesday night and defeated the Australian national team, 87-75, in an exhibition basketball game at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

Neither team led by more than six points; the lead changed 17 times until the Waves began pulling away in the last seven minutes.

With 7:05 left and Pepperdine leading, 67-61, sophomore guard Doug Christie made a baseline turnaround shot. The Waves then outscored Australia, 13-4, in the next four minutes to lead, 82-65.

Three Waves scored in double figures led by Tom Lewis’ game-high 24 points, Geoff Lear had 19 and Christie, 16.

Andrew Gaze scored a team-high 17 points, and three of his teammates also scored in double figures.

Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said he thought that the 10 players he used did well, particularly because Lear and redshirt freshman Steve Guild had sprained ankles.

Wave guard Craig Davis did not play because he of a back injury.