Pepperdine Has Easy Time

Two weeks ago, Pepperdine was the toast of Los Angeles college basketball after completing its sweep of USC and UCLA. Three games later, the Waves’ fall has been swift and unyielding.

Point Loma Nazarene provided a necessary cushion Friday night. Pepperdine breezed to a 98-55 victory over the overmatched NAIA squad at Firestone Fieldhouse.

The nonconference game brought together longtime friends in Pepperdine Coach Paul Westphal and Point Loma Coach John Block. Block was an All-American at USC in the mid-1960s, and Westphal followed the same path a few years later.

But after some well-wishes before the game, the Waves took out their frustration on a team that has lost 11 in a row. Pepperdine (5-5) was coming off double-digit losses to UC Santa Barbara, Oregon and Georgia after defeating the Trojans.

“We needed to get back to executing and really working on the things that have hurt us,” said Westphal, who emphasized rebounding and patience on offense. “I think we accomplished those things.”

Terrance Johnson had 24 points, most of them coming on layups or acrobatic dunks. Boomer Brazzle and Craig Lewis each added 13 for the Waves.

Point Loma (1-12) was supposed to be the sacrificial lamb when the game was scheduled, but that was underscored Friday, when the Crusaders fielded a team with nine freshmen and two sophomores.