Pepperdine Holds On

Alex Acker and Yakhouba Diawara each scored 19 points, Marvin Lea had a career-high 14 assists and Pepperdine held off Siena, 87-72, Thursday in the loser’s bracket of the BCA Invitational.

The Waves (1-1) scored the first 22 points of the second half, and later withstood a 32-12 run by the Saints (0-2). Glen McGowan had 18 points as all five Pepperdine starters reached double figures.

Kojo Mensah led Siena with 15 points, but the freshman point guard also had 11 of his team’s 24 turnovers.

The Waves had fallen apart in the second half a day earlier in a loss to East Carolina, and apparently, they were intent on doing a little better in this one.

After taking a three-point halftime lead, they made their first four shots after the break. Siena started 0 for 10.

The Saints had six turnovers before they made a shot and trailed, 59-26. The margin grew to 27 points a couple of minutes later on a layup by Diawara before Siena rallied.

A three-pointer by Tay Fisher made it 77-70, but Pepperdine held on at the free-throw line, making six of eight down the stretch.

The Waves will play Fairleigh Dickinson today.