Irvine Beats Pepperdine

UC Irvine almost let Pepperdine hang around too long in Thursday night’s game at Bren Center.

Playing for the first time in 12 days, Irvine committed 22 turnovers, but shot 58.3% from the field and that was just good enough to allow the Anteaters to hold off the Waves in double overtime, 85-83, in a nonconference game in front of 2,089.

Center Adam Parada scored 21 points, forward Stanislav Zuzak had 20, and guard Jeff Gloger had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Irvine (5-3). The Anteaters play at Sacramento State Saturday, then are off again until Jan. 3.

Guard Alex Acker scored 32 points for Pepperdine (3-6). The Waves are off to their worst start since the 1996-97 season when they went 1-8.

“That’s five close games we’ve been tied or ahead late in the game,” Pepperdine Coach Paul Westphal said. “We’ve got to find a way to get over that.”

Despite making one of its first 10 shots, Pepperdine used an 11-4 run for a 21-14 lead 14 minutes into the game.

But Irvine responded to take a 26-24 lead 2:13 before halftime on a basket by Parada from the top of the circle.

Irvine held a 58-51 lead with 7:21 to play, but Pepperdine slowly crept back and sent the game into overtime when a basket by Acker with 1.8 seconds left tied the score, 68-68.

Irvine grabbed leads at the start of both overtimes and held an 82-78 advantage in the second overtime with 1:19 to go. Acker’s steal and subsequent free throws pulled Pepperdine within 84-83 but the Waves couldn’t convert the next time they got the ball after an Anteater turnover.

Zuzak made the first of two free throws with 10 seconds remaining for a two-point lead.

Pepperdine had two final shots to tie the score. Guard Shaun Davis drove past Zuzak, but his layup missed and when forward Robert Turner attempted to dunk the rebound with one hand, the ball bounced off the rim as time expired.