Pepperdine Blows Past Northridge

Having struggled throughout the early season, Pepperdine tuned up for West Coast Conference play by dominating Cal State Northridge, 68-52, Tuesday night before 1,566 at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

“This came at the right time for us,” Pepperdine Coach Tony Fuller said. “Northridge is struggling.”

Northridge (2-8), loser of five in a row, hasn’t won since Dec. 9.

“We need a greater passion to compete,” Coach Pete Cassidy said. “We’re not coming out with any enthusiasm.”

Pepperdine’s zone defense forced Northridge outside, and the Matadors made only four of 15 three-point attempts.

“Our team stagnated,” said Robert Hill, Northridge’s point guard. “We didn’t flow into our offense.”

Pepperdine (4-8) overcame 20 turnovers by shooting 48% and maintaining a balanced attack. Center Gavin Vanderputten and guard Gerald Brown scored 12 points to pace the Waves.

Vanderputten, a seven-footer, and Clark James, who came off the bench, each had seven rebounds to lead a 37-22 Pepperdine advantage on the boards.

“We played well,” Fuller said. “It was great to win with a team effort like that.”

Monte Marcaccini, who came in averaging a team-high 13 points for the Waves, had seven points and was shut out until the last four minutes. Pepperdine played without sophomore Kirk Goehring, a starting forward who quit the team earlier on Tuesday.

Goehring, a sophomore who transferred to Pepperdine from LSU, reportedly will transfer again, this time closer to his hometown of Jackson, Tenn.

Michael Dorsey scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Northridge in both categories.