Pepperdine’s Loss to Georgia Is a Traveling Violation

The Georgia president hosted a dinner for Pepperdine on Saturday and the Bulldogs handed the Waves their lunch on Sunday.

Oh, that Southern hospitality.

The Waves were treated to a heaping helping and no doubt are feeling the heartburn today. Outshot, outrebounded and outhustled, Pepperdine was outscored, 72-61, in front of 6,055 at Stegeman Coliseum.

“We were a step slow today,” Wave forward Kelvin Gibbs said.

Pepperdine (3-2) had won three in a row since losing at Indiana, but going 0 for two in games that require flights and time-zone changes has Coach Jan van Breda Kolff troubled.

“I was disappointed in our legs,” he said. “We didn’t have the necessary energy level and we didn’t get the job done. We weren’t bouncing, we weren’t active, and our success depends on our aggressiveness.”

The Waves forced 20 turnovers, close to their season average of 21, but Georgia broke the press throughout the second half, often getting layups in transition.

Pepperdine shot poorly and the players the Waves count on for points were cold. Guard Brandon Armstrong had 20 points but made only seven of 19 shots. Guard Craig Lewis made two of 10 shots and David Lalazarian made one of seven.

Gibbs was a force in the first half, making four left-handed hook shots from the low post. But Georgia Coach Jim Harrick put 6-foot-8 freshman reserve Stephen Thomas on the Pepperdine senior and Gibbs was three-of-eight shooting in the second half.

“We needed someone big to guard Gibbs and Thomas did a nice job in the second half,” Harrick said.

Pepperdine’s only lead in the second half came with 17:30 left on a reverse layup by Lalazarian, his only basket. Three minutes later, Armstrong’s three-pointer tied the score, 39-39, but Georgia (4-3) scored the next eight points.

Georgia guard Ezra Williams scored all but one of his 19 points in the second half.

The Bulldogs got great production from their guards. D.A. Layne made five of six shots, scored 13 points and had six assists. Senior Adrian Jones scored nine points and freshman Rashad Wright added eight.