Acker Has Fullerton’s Number

Alex Acker found a new jersey number along with his shooting touch Wednesday night to help rebounding-challenged Pepperdine turn back Cal State Fullerton, 90-87, in front of 1,804 at Fullerton.

Acker, a reserve forward, switched to No. 15 after leaving his regular No. 3 jersey at home. The 6-foot-5 sophomore responded with a breakout game, scoring 19 points, including two free throws with 16.8 seconds for an 89-85 lead.

“I’ll probably change to No. 15,” Acker said with a laugh. “They’ll probably make me change it.”

Before the game, Acker was averaging two points and had made only three of 14 shots. He was perfect Wednesday, making all six of his shots from the field, including three three-point baskets, and all four of his free throws.

“That’s the guy we’ve been seeing in practice every day,” Pepperdine Coach Paul Westphal said. “He came out and played the way we know he can play. He’ll have a lot of games like that.”

Acker’s effort was needed on a night the Waves (2-2) were outrebounded, 38-23. Fullerton (1-3) had an 18-2 edge in offensive rebounds.

“It’s obviously a very serious problem,” said Westphal, whose team is short-handed on the front line because center Will Kimble has a heart condition and forward Glen McGowan is still recovering from knee surgery. “I’m glad we won the game, that’s about all I can say.”

Though the Waves lost the battle of the boards, they prevailed thanks to a winning touch. Pepperdine made 33 of 54 shots (61.1%), among them 10 of 18 three-pointers. Fullerton shot 50% but missed 17 of 22 three-point attempts.

Fullerton guard Ralphy Holmes led all scorers with 29 points and helped the Titans rally from an 11-point halftime deficit. Two free throws by center Pape Sow pulled Fullerton within 87-85 with 1:22 to play, but the Titans missed two shots that would have tied the score before Pepperdine made three of four free throws in the last 17 seconds.

Forward Jimmy Miggins and center Boomer Brazzle each scored 20 points for the Waves.

-- Rob Fernas

UC Irvine 81, Loyola Marymount 66 -- After being lectured in private before practice Tuesday by Coach Pat Douglass to stay out of foul trouble, center Adam Parada had 28 points and seven rebounds for the Anteaters (2-2) in a victory at Irvine.

The 7-foot junior also had two assists and two blocked shots in 32 minutes.

“He’s a handful, he’s really improved,” Loyola Marymount Coach Steve Aggers said. “We tried to double down on him and he still handled it.”

Guard Brandon Worthy scored 15 points off the bench and forward Keith Kincade scored 11 for Loyola (3-3).

With Irvine leading by three in the second half, Parada, who had fouled out of Irvine’s previous two games, started a 12-2 run with a turnaround eight-foot jumper off an inbounds pass. He was fouled and sank the free throw, giving Irvine a 47-41 lead with 13 minutes 32 seconds to play.

His blocked shot contributed to a 67-49 lead and he left the game with 2:50 remaining after his dunk put the Anteaters ahead, 74-51.

Jordan Harris had 14 points and seven rebounds, and Stanislav Zuzak had 10 points for Irvine, which has won its last four games against the Lions.

-- Paul McLeod

Southern Utah 79, Long Beach State 67 -- Jordan Mulford scored 19 points and Al Williams added 17 off the bench for Southern Utah at Cedar City, Utah.

Mulford made five of 11 three-pointers.

Jay Collins added a career-high 12 assists for the Thunderbirds (2-2).

Lemi Williams led Long Beach (1-3) with 18 points and Tony Darden and Kevin Roberts each scored 14.

Cal State Northridge 64, San Diego 61 -- The Matadors (3-2) gave Coach Bobby Braswell the 100th victory of his career. San Diego is 3-1.