The Pepperdine Waves men’s basketball team celebrated a historic win in the first leg of the West Coast Conference Tournament in Las Vegas on Thursday afternoon, but it was the program’s social media team that made waves online.
Led by sophomore Jevon Porter’s 28 points, Pepperdine routed Pacific in a record-setting 102-43 victory, which included a show-stopping 56-9 lead by halftime.
Jevon Porter, #14 of the Pepperdine Waves, and Nolan Hickman, #11 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, battle for a loose ball during the first half at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on Jan. 4, 2024 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Robert Johnson/Getty Images)
According to the school’s website, the halftime lead marked an NCAA Division I record for a season’s lowest points scored in the first half.
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The 59-point margin by the end of the game also set a conference record for the largest margin in a WCC championship game since Gonzaga previously set it in 2000 with 40 points.
However, it was not the team’s stellar performance that sent social media ablaze.
Pepperdine Waves guard Ethan Anderson, #20, controls the ball against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first half at Spokane Arena. (James Snook-USA TODAY Sports)
The Pepperdine men’s basketball social media page posted several messages on X celebrating the team’s victory – and several witty replies to college basketball fans.
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Junior Michael Ajayi led Pepperdine with 17 rebounds, scoring 21 points while going 8 of 13 from the floor, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and 4 for 6 from the line.
Porter added 11 rebounds to help Pepperdine move on to the next round, where the Waves will face the No. 5 seed San Diego on Friday night.
“We just don’t want it to be our last game,” Porter said Thursday. “We want to stick together for a while.”
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This season will be the last for head coach Lorenzo Romar. The school announced Tuesday that the veteran head coach will not return after six years with the program.
Pepperdine Waves head coach Lorenzo Romar speaks with Michael Ajayi, #1, during the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on Jan. 4, 2024 in Spokane, Washington. (Robert Johnson/Getty Images)
“Pepperdine benefited tremendously from Lorenzo Romar’s leadership, both on and off the court, and we owe a debt of gratitude to him for the way he loved his players, our basketball program, and the university,” Tim Perrin, senior vice president for strategic implementation, said.
“We love Coach Romar. The things he does for us are remarkable,” Ajayi added on Thursday. “Coming into this game, we just wanted to play for him. The passion we have for him is crazy. We just wanted to give all our energy, and we got the W.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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