Waves Start Fast, Hang On to Win : Pepperdine: Christie sparks early run, Lear scores late in 75-70 victory over Texas Tech.

Pepperdine started out Thursday night as if it was going to put away Texas Tech in the first half.

But the Red Raiders forced Pepperdine into playing a complete game before the Waves won, 75-70, before 1,057 at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

Doug Christie scored 10 of his game-high 18 points in the first seven minutes, spurring the Waves to an 18-5 lead with 13:06 left in the first half.

Pepperdine (5-2) seemed to have Texas Tech (3-4) on the run, but the Red Raiders began to rally late in the first half.

The Waves led, 27-18, with 5:25 remaining in the half, but they were then outscored, 12-3. A three-point basket by Barron Brown capped the rally, tying the score, 30-30.

But Pepperdine scored the next six points and led at halftime, 36-32.

Sophomore forward Will Flemons, who missed Tech’s first six games because of a broken foot, entered the game about midway through the first half and gave his team a lift. He finished with a team-high 14 points, making five of eight shots from the field and four of four free throws.

It was close throughout the second half. A steal and a layup by Bryant Moore gave the Red Raiders their only lead of the second half at 64-62, and the game was tied four times in the last six minutes.

But with the score tied, 70-70, Geoff Lear made a layup, Dana Jones a five-foot jump shot in the lane and Steve Guild one of two free throws for the Waves.

Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said, “We got careless with ball and gave them easy shots” after bolting to a 13-point lead.

But he added, “We took care of business at the end of the game. We played defense, rebounded well (and) showed poise.”

Lear finished with 15 points, and Rick Welch scored 11.