MALIBU, Calif. – Loyola Marymount climbed back for their first lead of the game in the second half, but it was a pair of Pepperdine late runs that determined the outcome on Thursday. The Lions (12-2, 0-1 WCC) dropped the West Coast Conference opener in the #PCHCup, 77-62, to Pepperdine (8-7, 1-0 WCC).
 
Pepperdine started the game up 7-0 before Dameane Douglas got to the line at the 15:50 mark. Douglas hit LMU's first field goal nearly six minutes into the game. The Waves went ahead double-digits, 21-11, with 7:48 on the first half clock. Douglas finished with 11 points in the game, all coming in the first half.
 
Zafir Williams hit a buzzer beater at the end of the first half to send LMU into the locker room trailing 31-27. The Lions closed out the first hitting six of their final eight shots to turn a 23-13 deficit into just four.
 
LMU opened the second half on a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the game. After the Waves used a three to retake their lead, Eli Scott buried a corner three to jump the Lions back on top, 36-34. Scott led all scorers with a season-high 18 points and shared team-high rebounding numbers with Mattias Markusson at seven apiece.
 
Pepperdine did not go away and used a 13-0 run to build up their largest lead of the game to that point, 49-38. Another 9-0 run by the Waves to go up 61-44 with 5:49 sealed the game as LMU dropped the WCC opener.
 
The Lions shot 34.3 percent (12-for-35) in the second half, while the Waves benefitted from 56.0 percent (14-for-25) shooting after halftime.
 
Four Lions finished in double-digits as James Batemon added a dozen and Joe Quintana scored 10.
 
The conference home opener is set for Saturday back on the Bluff. The Lions host Portland for a 3 p.m. "Kid's Day" special, which includes discounted tickets to all kids and their families.