St. Mary's at Pepperdine (+1) - 7:00pm Pacific - Game #669-670

Pepperdine started the season going 1-6 but have played much better in recent weeks going 4-5 in last nine games.  Three of the losses in the nine game span came at Kansas, at Gonzaga, and vs Oklahoma State.  One loss was at home to San Francisco in a game I felt they really should have won and the final loss in the span came by 2 points in overtime at Portland (Pilots had 27 more FT attempts despite trailing most of the game) last Monday.  This will be Pepperdine's first home game at full strength all season.  Projected starting center Russell Hicks missed the first 11 games of the season with a broken foot and just returned to action in last five games.  He hasn't looked himself yet but could be ready to breakout soon.  Good looking freshman forward Chris Oakes, the team's leading rebounder, just returned to the lineup for last two games after missing 9+ games with a sprained knee.  Pepperdine is still getting solid play from senior wing Tashan Forehan-Kelly and freshman point guard Michael Gerrity remains favorite to win WCC newcomer of the year honors. 

 

The Gaels have lost three straight games and are really struggling to score points right now.  Starting point guard John Winston was expected to fill some of the scoring lost from last year but he has shot poorly (.287 from the field, .206 from behind the arc) all season.   The team as a whole is only shooting .426 for the season.  Head coach Randy Bennett has experimented with different options in the backcourt in recent weeks but has yet to find any answers.  The team is only 1-3 on the road this season with the one win coming at hapless TCU.  SMC's one strength this year has been having a frontline size advantage over most opponents but Pepperdine has just as much if not more frontline size and depth now that they are healthy.

 

The Waves beat San Diego here in their last home game and I believe the Toreros are the second best team in the WCC right now which makes this a very winnable game.  Pepperdine is a very young team so playing at home can have a major positive impact on them.  This will not only be their first home game all season at full strength but also the first since students have returned from winter break.  The Waves will also be looking to avenge three straight losses in the series.  Expect a Pepperdine win.

 

RAS Official Play:  Pepperdine +1  1 UNIT