In a thrilling contest on Thursday night, Long Beach State managed to secure a narrow 79-76 victory against Pepperdine, with TJ Wainwright emerging as a key player by contributing 26 points while coming off the bench.

Wainwright was not only impactful on offense; he also pulled down eight rebounds for the Beach, helping their record improve to 5-8. Devin Askew had an important role as well, scoring 18 points. His performance included making six of his 14 attempts from the field, although he struggled from three-point range, finishing without a make from beyond the arc. From the free-throw line, Askew was effective, converting six out of eight shots. Varick Lewis added to the team’s effort, scoring nine points on three-of-seven shooting, including one successful three-pointer out of five attempts.

On the other side, Pepperdine’s Stefan Todorovic delivered a standout performance, racking up 32 points along with three steals. His efforts were crucial in keeping the Waves competitive as the team fell to 5-7. Moe Odum contributed significantly too, notching 14 points and dishing out 11 assists while also recording two steals. Boubacar Coulibaly rounded out the scoring for Pepperdine with a double-double, finishing with 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

During the second half, Askew emerged as the leading scorer for Long Beach State with 12 points; however, despite being outscored by six points in that final half, the team managed to hold onto their lead to secure the win.