Pepperdine Men’s Basketball Prepares for Long Beach State Showdown
Pepperdine men’s basketball team (4-7) is set to face Long Beach State (2-9) on Thursday at the Long Beach State Financial Credit Union Pyramid. The game tips off at 7 p.m., with streaming available on ESPN+ and live stats accessible online.
The Waves aim to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season after a solid 70-62 victory on the road over Cal State Bakersfield last Saturday. Aaron Clark led Pepperdine with 25 points, shooting 10-for-15 and achieving a career-high five steals. Javon Cooley contributed 17 points, including 14 in the second half, with three crucial three-pointers.
Pepperdine’s defense was formidable, holding Cal State Bakersfield to a season-low 29.8% shooting and an impressive 16.7% from beyond the arc. The Waves currently rank 17th nationally with a free throw percentage of .781 and third in the West Coast Conference (WCC) with 12.8 offensive rebounds per game.
Key Player Highlights
Styles Phipps stands out as one of three Division I players averaging over 11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and five assists per game. He ranks third in the WCC with 5.3 assists and uniquely holds both a points/rebounds and points/assists double-double this season.
Javon Cooley is the team’s second-leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 13.2 points and 5.4 boards per game. He is also notable for his free throw shooting, hitting 44 consecutive attempts and ranking second in the WCC and tenth nationally with a .957 free throw percentage.
Aaron Clark leads the Waves in scoring with 14.3 points per game, ranking 10th in the WCC. His recent 25-point performance also included three assists and five steals, making him the only player in the conference averaging at least 14 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Series Context and Opponent Review
Pepperdine holds a 17-12 all-time series advantage over Long Beach State, with a 7-6 record in true road contests. However, Long Beach State has won seven of the last nine meetings, including a tight 79-76 game in Malibu last season.
Long Beach State comes into the matchup with a three-game losing streak and was projected to finish eighth in the Big West preseason poll. Freshman Gavin Sykes leads the team, ranking sixth in the conference with 17.1 points per game. Syracuse transfer Petar Majstorovic adds 13.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Pepperdine’s non-conference schedule concludes with a home game against Rice on Saturday at Firestone Fieldhouse. Fans can follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineMBB for the latest updates.
Read more at: pepperdinewaves.com
