Pepperdine (15-6, 8-0), who defeated LMU (9-13, 2-6) in the first game of the annual back-to-back series 84-59, found it much tougher to take the Lions, as both teams finished with five players scoring more than 10 points.

However, the Waves had too many weapons down the stretch to win their 10th game in a row and 11th in 12 tries. The Waves were led by freshman Terrance Johnson with 21 points. He was joined in double figures by Craig Lewis with 17 points, Jimmy Miggins with 16, Devin Montgomery with 13 and Glen McGowan with 12.

The teams would trade baskets throughout the game as the contest featured 13 ties and 18 lead changes. The Waves would take the lead for the first time in the second half on a lay-up by Johnson to make the score 65-64 at 7:51 to play.

LMU would answer right back with a pair of free throws by senior Greg Lakey, who had 17 points for the game. The teams would continue to trade baskets throughout the remainder of the second, neither taking a lead greater than two until Miggins hit a soft jumper at 3:45 to give Pepperdine a 76-73 lead. They would increase it to their largest of the game, 79-73, with a three-pointer by Lewis at 2:45.

The Waves would not let the Lions get any closer as they would pull away for the win, outscoring the Lions 13-6 in the final two minutes of play.

The Lions took a 38-37 lead after the first half which saw five ties and 10 lead changes. LMU would take a six-point lead, the largest of the half by either team, at 11-5 with 16:14 to play on Lakey's five-footer. Lakey had nine points in the first half as neither team would take control the rest of the way.

The Lions were led by Robert Davis with 18, as he and Lakey were joined by Eurskine Robinson with 13, Andy Osborn with 13 and Kent Dennis with 10.