Pepperdine Puts End to Five-Game Streak : College basketball: First Division I victory, 84-69, comes against usually high-scoring Southern Utah.

Pepperdine ended its five-game losing streak convincingly Thursday night, outscoring Southern Utah by 23 points in the last 19 minutes of an 84-69 victory before 621 at Firestone Fieldhouse.

The victory was the Waves’ first of the season over a Division I opponent, and what did it all mean?

“Life is good, life is fun,” said Wave senior Clark James, who scored all 10 of his points after sitting out the first half.

Southern Utah (4-2) came in averaging 92.2 points on 51.1% shooting, and in the Thunderbirds’ 140-72 victory over South Alabama last Saturday night, their reserves scored 61 points.

But after making 66.7% of their shots against South Alabama, the Thunderbirds made only 37.9% against the Waves (2-5).

“We heard that they scored 140 points in their last game, so we were ready to try and play some defense, but also to keep executing our plans and do what we had to do,” said Pepperdine guard Gerald Brown.

Southern Utah made only 34.5% of its shots against a zone in the first half but led at halftime, 27-25, after Pepperdine made 12 turnovers.

Keith Berard, who led Southern Utah with 19 points, made two three-point shots in the first minute of the second half to increase the lead to 33-25 before Pepperdine Coach Tony Fuller switched to a man-to-man defense.

Pepperdine dominated the rest of the way, making 62.5% of its shots in the second half.

The Waves, who had only three turnovers after halftime, took control with a 20-4 run midway through the half.

Freshman forward Monte Marcaccini had a season-high 22 points and eight rebounds for Pepperdine and Brown, who made eight of 10 shots, had a career-high 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists.