LOS ANGELES — In an exciting match on Saturday night, Alex Merkviladze’s impressive performance, scoring 21 points, led Loyola Marymount to a 93-82 victory over Pepperdine.
Merkviladze contributed five rebounds, enhancing the team’s overall performance as the Lions improved their record to 16-13, with an 8-9 mark in the West Coast Conference.
Will Johnston also made a significant impact, netting 19 points with a shooting percentage of 7 out of 15, including 3 for 9 from beyond the arc. Jevon Porter showed versatility, finishing the game with 16 points, hitting 5 out of 10 shots from the field, and going 4 for 4 from the charity stripe while also making 2 of 3 three-pointers.

On the other hand, the Waves of Pepperdine, now standing at 10-19 overall and 4-12 in the conference, saw Moe Odum lead his team with a phenomenal 26-point game, accompanied by seven rebounds and six assists.
Dovydas Butka was also a significant contributor, scoring 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while adding two steals and two blocks to his performance. Stefan Todorovic chipped in with 18 points to aid the Waves’ efforts.

Loyola Marymount held a narrow lead of 37-36 at halftime, with Porter taking the lead in scoring for the first half with 10 points. The turning point came in the second half when Johnston’s three-pointer, just over three minutes in, established a lead for the Lions that they would maintain for the remainder of the game at 49-46.

Looking ahead, both teams are set to play again on Thursday; Loyola Marymount will host Saint Mary’s, while Pepperdine will travel to Portland for their next matchup.