Pepperdine Cruises to Easy Victory

Five players scored in double figures as Pepperdine recorded its highest scoring total in almost three years with a 116-76 victory over Oral Roberts on Saturday night in a nonconference game at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

The Waves, playing their final game before the start of West Coast Conference play next Friday against Gonzaga, improved to 9-3--their best start since the 1985-86 season. Oral Roberts, which has not won a road game in eight tries, is 3-9.

“That was exactly what I wanted from a game like this, particularly in the second half,” Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said. “I was really happy with the way the team played in the second half.”

Behind the shooting of forwards Jerome Abbage and LeNard Jones, Oral Roberts took a 16-7 lead in the first five minutes.

But the Waves countered with a 22-4 run, ending on a layup by Dana Jones, to take a 29-20 lead with 9:03 to play in the half and were never threatened again.

The Waves were ahead by as many as 42 points late in the game.

Pepperdine was led by Jones, who scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Guard Damin Lopez, who scored 21 points, had five three-point baskets. Derek Noether scored 19 points, Steve Guild 15 and Byron Jenson 13.

The Waves also set a school record with 13 three-point baskets.

Several Pepperdine baskets came on passes from point guard Bryan Parker, who scored only five points but finished with a school-record 17 assists.

“There are some things we can be doing better, but right now we’re playing pretty good,” Asbury said. “I like our emotional readiness going into conference play. Now it’s just a matter of getting down to business and playing.”