Lopez’s 22 Points Pace Pepperdine : College basketball: He makes five three-pointers and leads the Waves to a 65-56 victory over North Carolina Charlotte.
Damin Lopez scored a personal-best 22 points, including five three-point baskets, to lead Pepperdine to a 65-56 victory over North Carolina Charlotte on Friday.
Defensive intensity sparked Pepperdine (2-1) from the outset, as the 49ers converted only 10 of 30 first-half shots.
The 5-foot-8 Lopez made three three-pointers during the stretch, and the Waves opened a 31-13 lead with 7:53 left in the first half.
North Carolina Charlotte (3-2) employed a full-court press, however, and ran off 11 consecutive points, cutting the deficit to 31-24 with 3:35 left in the period.
But Pepperdine increased the lead to 40-24 at halftime and after an 11-4 run by the 49ers made the score 44-35 with 14:39 left in the game, Lopez made two more three-pointers to seal the victory.
“This was a tremendous win for our program and it may be the best victory in nonconference play since I became head coach (before the 1988-89 season),” Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said.
“I was pleased with our aggressiveness, especially on defense.”
Senior forward Byron Jenson added 15 points--14 in the first half--for the Waves.
Rodney Odom, a 6-foot-11 center who spent a redshirt season at UCLA, led the 49ers with 19 points.
More to Read
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.