Pepperdine Gets Past Irvine, 79-76

Pepperdine built a 35-point second-half lead, then withstood a furious comeback by UC Irvine for a 79-76 nonconference victory Saturday night at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Anteater senior guard Ross Schraeder missed two three-point shots in the final eight seconds that could have forced overtime.

Pepperdine (1-2) led, 47-17, at halftime and 56-21 with 16:56 to play. After missing 16 of its first 17 three-point shots, Irvine started converting, making six during 14-2 and 17-2 runs that cut the lead to 75-71 with 1:50 remaining.

The Anteaters (3-2) pulled within 79-76 with 17.6 seconds left when Schraeder made three free throws after being fouled taking a three-point try.

Chase Griffin was fouled when the Waves were trying to inbound the ball, but missed two free throws, giving Irvine the opportunity to tie the score.

Schraeder scored 29 points, all in the second half. Michael Gerrity led Pepperdine with 25.

“It was one of the strangest games I’ve ever been around,” Wave Coach Paul Westphal said. “When I told the team after the game, I just laughed. I just said, ‘I knew we weren’t as good as we were in the first half and I know we’re not as bad as we were in the second half.’ ”

-- Steven Herbert

Cal State Northridge 82, Northern Colorado 73 -- Mike Efevberha scored 18 points and Thomas Shewmake added 14 to lead the Matadors to victory in the consolation game of the Golden Bear Classic at Berkeley.

The Matadors (3-1) struggled throughout, even though the Bears (0-6) had 31 turnovers. Northern Colorado had a 57-52 lead midway through the second half, but the Matadors regained control with a 16-1 run over the next four-plus minutes.

Michael Gordy led Northern Colorado with 17 points.

San Diego 82, UC Riverside 65 -- Nick Lewis scored a career-high 29 points as the Toreros stormed past the Highlanders at Riverside.

Lewis made 13 of 16 shots. Ross DeRogatis and Corey Belser scored 12 points apiece, and Gyno Pomare had 10 for San Diego (2-2). Riverside (0-3) shot 32.4% and made only four of its 22 three-point tries.

Larry Cunningham led Riverside with 18 points.