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An evening with Coach Westphal

Henry Price — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 20:06:00 GMT

Members of BreakingWaves sat down with men’s basketball head coach Paul Westphal on February 9. The conversation ranged from offensive strategy to recruiting to his future at the program. We talked about, in Coach’s words, “The State of the Program, for everyone who cares.” Following are the highlights from that conversation.

Olé! Waves spear Toreros, 83-67

Henry Price — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 19:30:00 GMT

Glen McGowan, Yakhouba Diawara, and Alex Acker each scored over 20 points for Pepperdine, who overcame a 12-point first-half deficit to defeat the University of San Diego in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams.

Free throws, rebounding cost Pepperdine at UCLA

Henry Price — Sun, 12 Dec 2004 01:08:00 GMT

Throughout history, there have been precious few basketball seasons in which Pepperdine could visit UCLA boasting a better record, favored by the oddsmakers, and expecting to win.

This was one of those years.

But at the final buzzer, this game ended the way 14 of the previous 18 matchups had: with the dejected Waves watching the Bruins celebrate a victory.

Waves Dispose of Rebels, win 7th Straight

Henry Price — Thu, 09 Dec 2004 06:04:00 GMT

Two former NBA coaches reunited on the Firestone Fieldhouse floor Wednesday night at Lon Kruger's UNLV team visited Paul Westphal's Pepperdine.

Westphal, the former Phoenix Suns and Seattle SuperSonics head man, got the upper hand on this night. Glen McGowan dominated both ends of the floor as Pepperdine defeated UNLV, 86-78.

Plenty to be thankful for

Henry Price — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 16:08:00 GMT

Surviving one of the nastier season-opening schedules it's faced in many years, Pepperdine entered Saturday night's home opener with a 3-1 record despite flying over 5,000 miles for their first four games. Still, one blowout loss and three shaky wins left the Waves feeling they had something to prove to doubters.

After Saturday's performance, any lingering doubts were destroyed as convincingly as #17 Wisconsin was, as the Badgers fell, 75-61.

49ers can't strike gold, fall 82-78

Henry Price — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 06:55:00 GMT

The bad news: for the fourth time in as many games, Pepperdine allowed an opponent to stage a major run that cost them a significant second-half lead.

The good news: for the third time in those four games, they hung on for a victory.

The best news: the Waves' brutal season-opening road trip is over.

Waves tune up for opener

Henry Price — Wed, 10 Nov 2004 17:14:00 GMT

In two exhibition games against lower-division collegiate teams, Pepperdine fans got a glimpse of a 2004-05 team that boasts greater size, greater commitment to defense and greater opportunity for a successful season.

Pilots Crash in Malibu

Henry Price — Sun, 11 Jan 2004 16:22:00 GMT

Glen McGowan's 24 points and Alex Acker's 21 offset a career-high 33 from Portland's Pooh Jeter Saturday night in the Waves' 97-88 win that snapped an ugly five-game slide and evened their conference record at 1-1.

Acker pulled down eight rebounds and blocked five shots, and Derick Grubb registered his first career double-double, as the Waves offered a glimpse of what this season was supposed to look like.

Zags Roll in WCC opener, 87-70

Henry Price — Fri, 09 Jan 2004 13:37:00 GMT

In a game that typefied two teams moving in opposite directions, Gonzaga rolled past Pepperdine Thursday night in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams.

Corey Violette scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Blake Stepp added 19 points for the 17th-ranked Zags.

Pep Finally Wins a Close One, 81-80

Henry Price — Sun, 21 Dec 2003 00:25:00 GMT

Glen McGowan scored 24 points on a nearly perfect 9-10 shooting, including the game-winning dunk with 2.8 seconds remaining, as Pepperdine overcame a 16-point first-half deficit to defeat Bradley Saturday afternoon.

It wasn't pretty early on, but McGowan made sure it was a masterpiece late.

Waves' Hearts Broken Again in Double OT

Henry Price — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 18:16:00 GMT

It's difficult to imagine a more evenly matched game.

Tied at halftime, at the end of regulation, and at the end of the first overtime, Pepperdine and UC Irvine battled to a stalemate for 49 minutes Thursday night. A controversial finish to regulation, a frantic end of the second overtime, and some questionable decision-making by all parties culminated in a thrilling but devastating 85-83 loss for the hard-luck Waves.

Lipscomb No Match for Pep, 95-74

Henry Price — Sat, 13 Dec 2003 16:38:00 GMT

Glen McGowan scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds as a balanced Pepperdine team overcame 30 points from Lipscomb's James Poindexter and three technical fouls on Coach Paul Westphal to register its first relatively easy victory of the season in Nashville, TN.

Back in the Win Column

Henry Price — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 21:44:00 GMT

Glen McGowan led all scorers with 21 points, and Pepperdine outrebounded an opponent for the first time all season, as the Waves pulled away for an 87-73 win over Long Beach State.

Closing out a week in which they had lost three games by nine total points, Pepperdine found its stride again in defeating a team that has been struggling even more.

Waves Foiled Again at Thunderdome, 65-62

Henry Price — Thu, 04 Dec 2003 18:27:00 GMT

Casey Cook’s three-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining lifted UC Santa Barbara to a victory over Pepperdine Wednesday night. The loss dropped the Waves to 1-4, including two straight losses to Big West schools this week.

Season Turns Sour vs. Fullerton, 78-74

Henry Price — Tue, 02 Dec 2003 06:28:00 GMT

Following heartbreaking losses to two of the nation's better teams, the Waves were looking to right the ship agains perennial bottom-feeder Cal State Fullerton Monday night.

Instead, that ship went far, far astray, as the previously winless Titans pulled a remarkable upset.

Davis Slays Goliath

Henry Price — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 15:28:00 GMT

The record will show that the Pepperdine Waves defeated the Colorado Buffaloes, 94-77, on Monday night. But to those in attendance, it will be remembered as a titanic battle of wills between tiny Shaun Davis and Colorado giant David Harrison.

The Waves’ slingshot found its mark, as Davis managed to dominate the tempo on both ends of the floor and lead his team to its first victory of the season.

Flyers Soar Past Waves in Opener, 90-77

Henry Price — Sat, 22 Nov 2003 15:29:00 GMT

Pepperdine and Dayton, two of the most successful yet unheralded programs in the country the past several seasons, initiated a new cross-country rivalry Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

The hard-fought game was never out of reach for the Waves, but it was the first 12 minutes of the game that proved the difference on this night as Pepperdine never tasted the lead.

Cardinal Outlasts Lady Waves, 69-61

Henry Price — Sat, 22 Nov 2003 15:10:00 GMT

Short-handed and ailing, the Lady Waves opened their season Friday night against the #6 ranked Stanford Cardinal.

Apparently, a Waves team banged up and missing two of its top players is about all the Cardinal can handle.

Pepperdine Waves Season Preview

Henry Price — Wed, 19 Nov 2003 16:03:00 GMT

Whom do you guard?

That’s the toughest question facing opposing coaches preparing for the Waves this season – a season in which it could be argued that Pepperdine fields its best and deepest team ever.

Dayton Flyers Season Preview

Matt Schwade — Wed, 19 Nov 2003 15:56:00 GMT

The Dayton Flyers finished the 2002-03 season on a sour note last spring. The highest seeded team in school history at fourth in the Midwest Region, the Flyers were upset by the 13th-seeded Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Following the loss, their head coach Oliver Purnell packed his belongings without a real warning and moved to Clemson, SC, to try his luck in the ACC.