Loyola Marymount University pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat cross-town rival Pepperdine 93-82 Tuesday night at Gersten Pavilion, improving to 16-13 on the season behind a balanced offensive performance and strong home crowd support.
The Lions were led by Alex Merkviladze's 21 points, while Will Johnston added 19 and Caleb Stone-Carrawell contributed 12. Pepperdine's Moe Odum delivered an impressive individual performance with 26 points in the losing effort.
"LMU ran away with this one in the fourth quarter by playing patient, team ball," showcasing the disciplined approach that has marked the Lions' improved play this season under new leadership.
The game started with early energy as LMU's Jevon Porter opened the scoring with a putback dunk. Odum quickly answered for Pepperdine with a crafty finish, setting the tone for what would be a back-and-forth contest throughout the first half.
A hustle play by Rick Issanza led to an easy layup for Merkviladze, highlighting the increased intensity that has characterized LMU's recent play. Season ticket holder Dominic Gomez credited new assistant coach Lorenzo Romar for the team's transformation.
"Lorenzo Romar is great. He instilled hustle, the team plays hard," Gomez said. "There is a quantum difference in attitude which impacts and translates to better play."
Coming out of a timeout, LMU executed a well-designed play that allowed Porter to set his feet and drill a 3-pointer. Porter, whose brother Michael Porter Jr. plays for the Denver Nuggets, has been a key contributor to LMU's improved performance.
Despite Odum's dominant first-half performance for Pepperdine, LMU showed remarkable patience on offense. Johnston's wide-open 3-pointer cut Pepperdine's lead to five points and accelerated the game's pace.
The Lions seized momentum late in the first half when Porter attacked the rim for an emphatic dunk, followed immediately by Johnston converting a steal into a coast-to-coast layup. However, Pepperdine responded through Odum, who knocked down a 3-pointer and provided vocal leadership during timeouts while serving as the Waves' primary ball handler.
Odum capped his first-half performance with an assist at the buzzer, helping Pepperdine maintain a slim advantage. LMU led 37-36 at halftime in what had been a highly competitive opening period.
The Lions opened the second half with Johnston connecting on another 3-pointer before Aaron McBride energized the crowd with a powerful dunk. Season ticket holder Robert Koran praised McBride's consistent effort and local connection.
"He's always hustling for loose balls and he's a local boy from Corona Centennial High School," Koran said.
Merkviladze began asserting himself in the post during the second half, backing down his defender for quality scoring opportunities. "That's his game," Koran noted of the forward's interior presence.
LMU's defensive pressure intensified at the 12-minute mark with a full-court press that helped extend their lead to 10 points with 10 minutes remaining. The Lions maintained their advantage through patient offensive execution and timely defensive stops.
The exclamation point came when Myron Amey Jr. connected on a 3-pointer with less than two minutes remaining, effectively sealing the victory for LMU. The Lions were able to control the final moments and dribble out the clock.
The victory represents continued progress for LMU under their coaching staff's new approach, with the addition of experienced assistants including former Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar bringing renewed energy and tactical expertise to the program.
For Pepperdine, despite Odum's outstanding individual performance and competitive effort throughout most of the game, the Waves were unable to match LMU's fourth-quarter execution and depth.
The rivalry game atmosphere at Gersten Pavilion provided an energetic backdrop for both teams, with LMU's home crowd playing a notable role in the Lions' ability to pull away during crucial moments of the contest.