Pepperdine Game Recap: Waves Defeat Houston Baptist
By James Pigott
Dec 7, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Houston Baptist Huskies forward/center Ricmonds Vilde (55) boxes out Michigan Wolverines guard Caris LeVert (23) at Crisler Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Overview
Stacy Davis and Brendan Lane combined for 42 points and 21 rebounds as Pepperdine defeated Houston Baptist 76-64 at Firestone Fieldhouse.
Pepperdine trailed by 3 points at halftime, and the margin stayed within a few points until Pepperdine pulled away in the final three minutes of the game, going on a 13-2 run over the final 2:41 of the game. Pepperdine did what it needed to on offense by featuring Lane and Davis who each scored 21 points. Houston Baptist was led in scoring by Rob Lewis (14 points) and Cody Joyce (12 points). Marcel Smith stepped up at point guard for the Huskies with 6 assists.
Stat(s) of the Night
Malcolm Brooks had 5 assists and only 1 turnover for Pepperdine. If he can keep this up, Pepperdine will have two point guards on the floor with Brooks and Jeremy Major, which is quite a luxury. Just look at how well Gonzaga has played the past three years with Kevin Pangos and David Stockton on the floor together.
Nikolas Skouen played 1 total minute. For someone who averaged 22 minutes and 8 points per game last season, he has managed to find his way into Coach Marty Wilson’s doghouse. Either he will have to start hitting his outside shots consistently or find other ways to help this team, because with the emergence of Lamond Murray Jr. off the bench (6 points vs. HBU), Skouen might not see much more time in the future.
Moving Forward
This was a solid win for Pepperdine which hosts San Diego next Saturday in the first WCC contest of the season. Davis and Lane should give Dennis Kramer and Jito Kok trouble down low, and if Brooks/Major can come close to matching the production of Johnny Dee/Chris Anderson, the Waves have a legitimate shot to win that game.