Pepperdine Blocked at Buzzer and Loses to Texas Tech, 72-69

Will Flemons scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds Tuesday night as Texas Tech edged Pepperdine, 72-69, in the season opener for both teams.

Behind the play of Flemons and sophomore Lance Hughes, who added 14 points, the Red Raiders built a 60-44 lead with 8:27 left in the game.

Damin Lopez, who led the Waves with 17 points, cut the lead to 69-65 with 1:10 left on his fifth three-pointer. A pair of baskets by Pepperdine’s Dana Jones sandwiched around a basket by Hughes cut the margin to 71-69.

But Brad Dale made a free throw with six seconds left and Lenny Holly blocked a desperation three-point shot by Lopez.

Flemons, the Southwest Conference player of the year last season, made 10 of 13 shots from the field as the Red Raiders shot 56.6%.

For Pepperdine, Jones had 16 points and Byron Jenson added 14. The Waves made seven of 17 three-point attempts, but only four of 14 free throws.

“It was a typical season-opening game,” Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said. “At times we looked good, and at other times we made some poor decisions.

“I was pleased with our effort down the stretch. We kept working hard and hit some three-point shots to get back in the ballgame.”