Pepperdine Getting Point Across : College basketball: Hill scores 25 as Waves keep atoning for last season’s record with 99-88 victory over Weber State.

Pepperdine forward Bryan Hill says the Waves want to send a message that they aren’t the same team as last season, when they slipped to their worst record in 17 years.

“It’s a whole new era,” he said.

Hill had reason to boast Saturday night after scoring 19 of his team-high 25 points in the second half to help Pepperdine defeat Weber State, 99-88, in a nonconference game before 1,429 at Firestone Fieldhouse.

The Waves (4-2), who scored 67 points in the second half after the first half ended in a 32-32 tie, have won three games in a row, something they failed to accomplish last season during a forgettable 8-19 campaign.

“This is a big win,” Hill said. “It just boosts our confidence a whole notch. We don’t want to be the Pepperdine of last season. . . . We’re trying to send statements to everybody.”

Weber State (3-3) got the message at the outset of the second half. Pepperdine opened with a 14-2 run to take a 46-34 lead. Guard Marques Johnson made two three-point baskets during the stretch and scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half, when he made four three-point shots.

With Johnson hitting from the outside and Hill scoring well inside, Pepperdine’s lead grew to 73-51 with nine minutes left. The Waves shot 69.7% (23 of 33) in the second half to finish the game at 58.1%.

“They came after us in the second half and got it done,” Weber State Coach Ron Abegglen said. “We gave up [67] points in the second half. That says a lot about our defense. Part of it was our offense. We threw the ball away . . . and gave them a lot of opportunities.”

Weber State had 19 turnovers, and Pepperdine had 18.

Weber State forward Jimmy DeGraffenried had game-high totals of 27 points and 10 rebounds.