Pepperdine Starts Fast and Scores Easy Victory Over Robert Morris

Pepperdine jumped into a 10-0 lead Monday night and ran away with an 84-59 victory over Robert Morris before 1,017 fans at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

Pepperdine improved its record to 10-2. Robert Morris dropped to 2-6.

Dropped is a good way to describe how Robert Morris handled the ball most of the game. At one point in the second half, the Colonials had more turnovers than shot attempts. They finished with 18 turnovers to Pepperdine’s 11.

Against Pepperdine’s pressing defense, Robert Morris didn’t get off a shot till more than three minutes into the game. And when the Colonials made their first basket, the game clock and scoreboard broke down.

But the mistakes were infectious. Once a Pepperdine player went up for a dunk but forgot to hold onto the ball.

That’s the way it went, but Pepperdine Coach Jim Harrick said he liked some of the things his team did in the game, particularly since he felt the Waves had been struggling in their previous four games.

“That’s the way we should play regardless of the opponent--hard and with intensity,” Harrick said.

He got an opportunity to use his reserves early and often and said he liked the performances of substitutes Mike Mounts, Marty Wilson, David Brittain and Jim Harrick Jr.

Four Waves scored in double figures. Brittain had 11 points, Dwayne Polee and Grant Gondrezick each had 14 and Eric White added 13 points on 6 for 7 shooting.

Robert Morris also had four men in double figures. Bryan Simmons led the way with 13 points, Garth Wurstle had 12, Mike Brunson 11 and Ken Williams 10.

The Colonials shot 48% from the floor (25 of 52) and only 43% from the free-throw line (9 of 21). Pepperdine hit 51% from the field (34 of 67) and 70% from the line (16 of 23).