Pepperdine Hosts LMU for PCH Cup Game
By Josh Horton
Jan 16, 2014; Malibu, CA, USA; Pepperdine Waves guard
Austin Mills(13) brings the ball up court in the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Firestone Fieldhouse. Gonzaga defeated Pepperdine 70-53. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Fielding-USA TODAY Sports
LMU Lions (11-11, 3-7) at Pepperdine (12-10, 5-5)
Date: Saturday, February 1st, 2014
Location: Firestone Fieldhouse, Malibu, Calif.
Time: 3:00 PM PST
TV: TWC Sportsnet
Video: thew.tv
Last Season: Pepperdine defeated LMU last season with a combined win total of 5 points in each matchup.
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Pepperdine
LMU
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LMU will make the 40 or so minute drive to Malibu, Calif. on Saturday to meet up with their Southern Californian rivals. Whether LMU and Pepperdine are considered rivals anymore is up for debate, but regardless this is an important game, as is every game in the West Coast Conference this season.
LMU simply needs a win. The Lions have lost seven out of their last eight games and are chomping at the bit to notch a W in the win column. Pepperdine is in the same boat, but a loss could finally knock out the Waves from the WCC’s top five after losing five out of their last seven games.
Keys to the Game
LMU
Levin and Ireland need to bring the Payne: In conference play, when Anthony Ireland, Evan Payne and Gabe Levin reach double-digit points, the Lions are 3-0. When the trio fails to accomplish this, they are 0-7 in WCC play.
Scoring comes fairly easy to Payne and Ireland, but it has been a little tougher for Payne as of late. However, the Lions need Payne to produce, as he is their best scoring threat down low. However this will not be an easy task as he will likely be matched up against Pepperdine forward Stacy Davis, a physical player who will presents a great challenge for the freshman forward.
Pepperdine
Double-double: No, I am not talking about the In-n-Out burger. In Pepperdine’s five conference wins this season, four of them came when either Stacy Davis or Brendan Lane recorded a double-double. In the Waves five losses, there was not one double-double recorded from the Waves forwards.
Based on this statistical trend, the Waves seemingly have a much better chance of winning if one of these two players dominate in the point. That should be an emphasis for them: get Davis and Lane the ball.
Prediction
This one is tough. You never know quite what the Waves are going to bring any given day. However, I think the Waves will benefit from being back at home, and knock off their longtime archrivals. Pepperdine 75, LMU 70.