Pepperdine’s Three-Pointers Cut Down Nevada, 93-72

Pepperdine, using the three-point shot with telling effect, routed cold-shooting Nevada, 93-72, Tuesday night before 2,122 in Firestone Fieldhouse at Malibu.

The Waves (4-0) made 12 of 23 shots from three-point range. The 12 tied a school record held by the 1988-89 and 1989-90 teams.

The Wolf Pack, which shot 29% in the first half and 41% for the game, dropped to 1-3.

Asked if taking so many three-point shots was planned, Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said: “Sort of. They zoned so much. We figured that Rick Welch would be wide open and Doug (Christie) shoots the three well against a zone because his feet are set.”

Pepperdine led for the first time at 10-7 on a three-point shot by Welch, who was five for eight from three-point range. After that, the Waves never trailed.

Leading 22-16 with 10:12 to play in the first half, Pepperdine went on a 22-9 run that included five three-point shots, three by Christie.

Five Waves scored in double figures. Christie, who made all three of his three-point shots, led all scorers with 19 points. Welch added 15, Geoff Lear had 14, Damin Lopez had 14--including two for four from three-point range--and Dana Jones had 10.

Jones made his first three field goals, extending his streak to 17 in a row over two games and setting another school record.

Saturday, he had made all 14 of his shots as Pepperdine trounced Boise State, 70-48. Jones is the second player in NCAA history to make all 14 shots in a game. Cornelius Holden of Louisville was the first in 1990.