PROVO, Utah – BYU Basketball is getting ready for its second meeting in a two-game set against the Pepperdine Waves. This time the Cougars are in beautiful Malibu, California, to take on a Pepperdine squad that appears better than its 6-7 record.

FINAL: Pepperdine 76, #BYU 73.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 27, 2021

BYU defeated Pepperdine this past Saturday in a game that saw the Cougars game-high 16-point lead trimmed down to three before BYU pulled away late for a 65-54 win.

No one will be allowed in attendance at Firestone Fieldhouse for this game due to state and county protocols navigating the COVID-19 pandemic in California.

This is a rescheduled game. Originally, these two teams were scheduled to meet on December 31st in Malibu to open up conference play.

BYU comes into the game on a four-game winning streak and a record of 13-3 overall, 4-1 in WCC play. Pepperdine is surprisingly 6-7 despite their talented roster. The Waves are 1-2 in conference games this season.

Keep checking back here for updates throughout the game.

2nd Half

Pepperdine 76, BYU 73 (FINAL): Rebounds were tough to come by for BYU down the stretch. On one Pepperdine possession, the Waves came up with four attempts at the basket. Spencer Johnson hit a big three to tie the game up at 71 but moments later had a costly turnover to Colbey Ross.

Pepperdine secured its first victory over BYU this season and the first win for Lorenzo Romar against BYU. BYU’s four-game winning streak ends, and the Cougars fall to 13-4 and 4-2 in WCC play this season.

#BYU 73, Pepperdine 73

53.6 remaining

Time to dig in.#BYUHoops #GoCougs #WCChoops

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 27, 2021

Pepperdine 71, BYU 66 (3:10): Richard Harward gave BYU a pair of buckets, his first two field-goal makes of the game, plus a nice block shot. But it wasn’t enough as the Waves kept attacking with Ross, Edwards, and forward Jan Zidek. The Waves built up their lead to a game-high five points at the final media stoppage.

Pepperdine 58, BYU 57 (7:57): Spencer Johnson feels like we keep saying his name a lot today. He pulled off another steal that led to a bucket and an and-one opportunity to put BYU up three. But the Waves answered back.

#BYU has never lost a Quad 3/Quad 4 game since Mark Pope became head coach.

That's in jeopardy right now.@PeppBasketball – 67@BYUbasketball – 66

4:09 | 2nd #BYUHoops #WCCHoops #GoCougs

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 27, 2021

Back-to-back buckets from Pepperdine’s Smith and Altman gave the Waves a 58-57 lead. Then Brandon Averette was called for a carry, building BYU’s turnover total up to 11. Alex Barcello was fouled before the stoppage and was to go to the line for a one-and-one.

Pepperdine 52, BYU 50 (11:02): This game has the same makeup as what transpired on Saturday in the Marriott Center. BYU built a double-digit lead with the Waves answering back to make things uneasy for the Cougars. This time around, the Waves took the lead.

Both teams are shooting 25 percent from three. The field is even as well as BYU is shooting 45 percent and Pepperdine 42 percent. Guard Brandon Averette made a couple of big layups for BYU to prevent Pepperdine from creating more separation.

BYU 46, Pepperdine 39 (15:05): BYU came out of halftime on fire with Kolby Lee getting a quick bucket off a steal and then Alex Barcello knocked down a three. The Cougars built their lead to a game-high 11 points before the Waves answered again to trim the deficit to five.

BYU was on a 2:36 scoring drought before Spencer Johnson hit a layup to put the Cougars’ lead back up to seven.

Halftime Thoughts

 

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HALFTIME@BYUbasketball – 37@PeppBasketball – 32

Caleb Lohner was a star of the first half for #BYU scoring 11 points and pulling down four rebounds.#BYUHoops #GoCougs #WCCHoops https://t.co/5XW4V1JHMF

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 27, 2021

First Half

BYU 37, Pepperdine 32 (0:00): Spencer Johnson put together a nice and then took the ball coast-to-coast for an underhand layup. But the star of the half for BYU was Caleb Lohner. After a pair of missed shots, Lohner pulled down an offensive rebound to go to the free-throw line to put his scoring output to 11 points. BYU’s largest lead was eight, but Pepperdine continued to answer led by Edwards and Ross. Both of Pepperdine’s stars combined for 19 points in the first half.

BYU 29, Pepperdine 24 (3:24): Junior college transfer Spencer Johnson hit a big three moments after Pepperdine’s Kessler Edwards scored out of the timeout. Matt Haarms started to come alive. The 7-foot-3 big altered a few of Colbey Ross’s shots and then hit a pair of field goals. BYU missed an opportunity to extend the lead after a turnover from Brandon Averette, who tried to push the ball down the court, but Polk for the Waves picked the pass off.

BYU 18, Pepperdine 15 (7:30): Iron went unkind for BYU during this stretch. BYU had a scoring drought of 3:24 before Caleb Lohner knocked down a three from the wing to bring his game total to seven points. Lohner is tied with Pepperdine’s Colbey Ross with a game-high seven points.

BYU 15, Pepperdine 11 (10:47): BYU is shooting only 17% from three-point range, but 50% from the field. The Cougars have five turnovers at the media timeout. Caleb Lohner gave BYU some valuable minutes off the bench with a slam dunk and a reverse layup to get an early four points.

BYU 7, Pepperdine 3 (15:56): Alex Barcello made zero field goals in the first meeting against the Waves. He got on the board early in this one. Kolby Lee knocked down a three-pointer to give BYU the early advantage.

BYU/Pepperdine Pregame

• BYU guard Alex Barcello will wear a mouthpiece against the Waves. The senior leader had his tooth knocked out on Saturday after taking an elbow to the face. Immediately after the game, Barcello saw dentist Dr. Morgan in Orem to get the tooth fixed.

The new mouthguard is looking good on Alex Barcello. #BYU #BYUHoops @kslsports https://t.co/HYaWjXjGx4

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 27, 2021

• For the fifth consecutive game, BYU will bring out the same starting lineup that features Brandon Averette, Alex Barcello, Trevin Knell, Matt Haarms, and Kolby Lee.

Today's starters at Pepperdine:@AlexBarcello23 @BAforever_4 @trevin_knell
Matt Haarms@Krlee32

Watch live on @byutvsports

Listen live with @gregwrubell on @byuradio #BYUhoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/RAwdxKhZar

— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) January 27, 2021

• Trevin Knell had one of his best games as a BYU Cougar against Pepperdine on Saturday; Knell knocked down three three-pointers.

STARTING 🖐️

0️⃣ @agenttzero
4️⃣ @cdot_ross
1️⃣5️⃣ @KesslerEdwards
2️⃣4️⃣ @kene_96
3️⃣4️⃣ @VictorTriggz#WCChoops | #UNITY pic.twitter.com/ekWl3Sfsbi

— Pepperdine Men’s Basketball (@PeppBasketball) January 27, 2021

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.