Pepperdine Eases Past Northridge

Mike Gerrity scored 20 points, and Tashaan Forehan-Kelly had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Pepperdine defeated Cal State Northridge, 87-72, Wednesday night at Malibu.

Jarrad Henry scored 13 points for the Waves (4-7), who won consecutive games for the first time this season.

Pepperdine had a double-digit lead for most of the second half, getting a boost from nine-for-16 shooting from three-point range.

The Waves built their biggest advantage, a 16-point lead, when Forehan-Kelly made two free throws with 1 minute 44 seconds remaining.

Thomas Shewmake had a career-high 22 points, Calvin Chitwood scored 17 and Mike Efevberha had 16 for the Matadors (5-4), who made 23 of 31 free throws but only five of 21 three-point shots.

Cal State Fullerton 74, Florida International 57 -- Bobby Brown scored 24 points to lead the Titans at the FIU Holiday Classic at Miami.

The Titans (6-3) led, 21-10, after Jamaal Brown scored on a three-point basket with 10:08 to play in the first half.

John Clemens’ two free throws gave Fullerton its largest lead, 62-40, with 7:18 to play.

Ivan Almonte had a second-consecutive double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds for Florida International (3-8), which trailed at the half, 38-24.

UC Santa Barbara 76, Portland 53 -- Chris Devine scored 19 points and had four assists, and the Gauchos (5-5) improved to 5-0 at home.

The Gauchos made nine of 21 three-point shots and shot 54.7% overall.

The Pilots (5-8), who got 17 points each from Marcus Lewis and Pooh Jeter, lost their fifth consecutive road game.

Portland out-rebounded Santa Barbara, 38-32, but the Gauchos held the Pilots to 31.7% shooting.

Santa Clara 63, UC Riverside 61 -- Travis Niesen had 23 points and 14 rebounds for the Broncos (6-4) in the first round of the Cable Car Classic at Santa Clara.

Rickey Porter scored 22 points for the Highlanders (0-9), who lost their 13th consecutive game dating to last season. They are off to their worst start since their first season in 1954-55.

The Broncos held off a late charge from Riverside, which scored 15 of the last 18 points to draw within the final score heading into the final minute.

Porter had a last-second chance but missed a three-point shot as time ran out.