PEPPERDINE GAME REPORT

FIRST HALF

PEPPERDINE 45, INDIANA 27

What Happened: Apparently, the Hoosiers never watched any tapes of Pepperdine games. The Waves’ swarming defense befuddled Indiana, which could find no answer. Pepperdine went on a 12-0 run in the middle of the half, as the Hoosiers went 6:43 without making a field goal. The Hoosiers seemed woefully underprepared. Perhaps Coach Bobby Knight was too distracted this week to tell his team how to counter Pepperdine’s trapping defense.

What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: The team effort by the Waves. It seemed there were two Pepperdine defenders on the court for every Hoosier ballhandler. On shot attempts, every Wave would crash the boards. Pepperdine looked like the team with all the NCAA tournament experience.

Winning Numbers: Where to start for Pepperdine? The Waves shot 51.5% from the field (17 of 33), were six of eight from three-point territory. They also outscored Indiana 12-0 and 9-0 in two separate first-half runs.

Wrong Numbers: Indiana shot 29% from the field (nine of 31) and missed all seven three-point attempts. A.J. Guyton had only one field-goal attempt.

Leading Scorers: Pepperdine--Brandon Armstrong, 18. Indiana--Lynn Washington, 5.

SECOND HALF

PEPPERDINE 77, INDIANA 57

What Happened: Indiana outscored Pepperdine, 1-0, in the first four minutes of the half, then it was all Pepperdine. The Waves outplayed Indiana in every facet of the game. The Hoosiers closed to within 11 at one point, but the Waves went on a 10-0 run and never looked back. Indiana played as though they belonged in the CIF tournament, not the NCAA tournament. And give Pepperdine most of the credit for that.

What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: Once again, a Bobby Knight team came into the tournament and played like a 16th-seeded team. He hasn’t moved his team past the second round in the last six years, losing in the first round four times. It’s considered sacrilege to even think this in Indiana, but it’s time for Indiana to find a new coach. Does anyone know Steve Alford’s number?

Winning Number: 18. That’s how many years it has been since Pepperdine has advanced past the first round. The Waves have never advanced past the second round. Who was Pepperdine’s coach 18 years ago? Jim Harrick.

Wrong Numbers: A.J. Guyton had his worst game with the Hoosiers. He had only two field-goal attempts, missing both, and finished with three points. Was Guyton really the co-player of the year in the Big Ten?

Leading Scorers: Pepperdine--Craig Lewis, 9. Indiana--Kyle Hornsby, 13.