Fast-Moving Waves Swamp Norfolk State, 99-57

Pepperdine was off and running Friday night.

Having survived a close call in their opener, the Waves left nothing to chance in cruising to a 99-57 victory over Norfolk State before 1,630 at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

The 42-point margin was the largest for the Waves since they beat Portland, 101-53, in the 1975-76 season.

Pepperdine (2-0) overwhelmed Norfolk State (0-2), a first-year Division I program, with an up-tempo attack that was missing Tuesday when UC Irvine’s slow-down tactics frustrated the Waves in their 50-46 victory.

“The key was our team got to play our style tonight,” Pepperdine guard Jelani Gardner said. “UC Irvine tried to slow us down the make it a half-court game. . . . We want to dictate our style on our opponents.”

Gardner, a transfer from California, scored 18 points and was one of five Waves scoring in double figures. He made four of six three-point shots after missing all four of his three-pointers and scoring only five points against Irvine.

Forward Bryan Hill led Pepperdine with 20 points, center omm’A Givens scored 17, guard Gerald Brown added 13 and reserve forward Kelvin Gibbs had 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. The Waves shot 61.8% (34 of 55) and were in command after an 18-4 run gave them a 23-8 lead.

“For us to go out and give an effort for 40 minutes was as good as anything that happened tonight,” Pepperdine Coach Lorenzo Romar said. “This is something our guys can build on.”

The Waves, who led by as many as 44 points, will face a tougher challenge Monday night when they play host to Wisconsin.

--ROB FERNAS

UC Irvine 74, Chico State 66--Chico State, a Division II team, served its purpose. Irvine, which didn’t get its first--and only--victory until Jan 23 last season, pulled away down the stretch at the Bren Center. The victory ended the Anteaters’ 14-game losing streak.

Irvine was 1-25 last season.

Junior Bond made two free throws to give the Anteaters (1-2) a 63-62 lead with 5 minutes 11 seconds left. It began a 13-4 run. Adam Stetson, who scored six during that stretch, made a three-point basket for a 70-64 lead and Chico State (2-2) folded.

“This is fabulous,” said Stetson, who had a game-high 25 points. “We want people here to get used to us winning.”

That euphoria may last only a short time. Irvine, after all, plays at No. 16 Utah a week from today. Still, it was a victory, one the Anteaters had to earn.

Dan Curtis’ layup gave Chico State a 49-44 lead with 15:22 left. Stetson followed with a three-point shot and a steal that led to a Juma Jackson layup.

Bond, a 5-8 junior, took control after that. He scored all eight of his points in the last 10 minutes and also forced two key turnovers.

Malachi Edmond scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half for Irvine.