pepperdine basketball Survives LMU 90–89 as Cicic Slams Home Game‑Winner
Pepperdine rallied from a late deficit to edge Loyola Marymount 90–89 on Feb. 14 (ET) at Firestone Fieldhouse, capped by a go‑ahead dunk from freshman center Stefan Cicic with eight seconds remaining. The one‑point victory ended a long skid and shifted momentum back to the Waves.
How the game unfolded
The matchup opened at a frenetic pace, with the Lions taking an early edge through interior scoring and timely three‑point makes. LMU built separation midway through the first half, exploiting turnovers that turned into quick points and stretching a lead to 23–20. Pepperdine countered as redshirt sophomore guard Aaron Clark ran the offense, punctuating the opening minutes with 12 points while Cicic anchored the paint.
Despite the Waves' push, the Lions closed the half on top, 56–54. Pepperdine entered the locker room knowing defense would be the focus in the second half. "Going into the second half we just stay locked in on the defensive end, " Clark said. "They kept scoring. It was a high scoring game. So we kind of knew we had to get a stop. Going into the second half, it was all about stops, for sure. "
Late rally and a dramatic finish
The second half saw Pepperdine struggle to find efficient offense, shooting under 40 percent while foul trouble compounded their issues. LMU pushed the margin to 85–78 in the final five minutes, the largest deficit of the period. The Waves called a timeout to regroup; the bench reacted and players emphasized getting the ball to the hot hand.
Out of the timeout, Clark drilled a wing three to cut the margin to 85–81. On the next trip, Pepperdine cleaned the defensive board and Clark drove the lane for a layup, narrowing the deficit to 85–83. With the clock winding down, the Lions converted free throws to go back up 89–88 with under two minutes remaining. The tension mounted as both teams exchanged possessions and defensive stands.
In the final stretch the Waves locked in defensively. A late timeout helped set the stage for the decisive sequence; Clark recalled the team's focus at that moment: "In the timeout we talked about how we need to stay together, get the next stop. We need one more stop. So that kind of was gonna seal it after we got there. " The stop came, and Cicic rose through traffic to dunk home the go‑ahead bucket with eight seconds on the clock, sending the Firestone crowd into a roar and giving Pepperdine the 90–89 lead they would not relinquish.
Why the win matters
The victory serves as a reset for the Waves, marking their first win since a January triumph over Portland and restarting their momentum as the conference slate tightens. Young contributors stepped up in pressure moments — Cicic's finishing ability and Clark's steady leadership were front and center — and the team showed resilience in overcoming shooting struggles and foul trouble.
Coach Edmund Schillings and his staff will take encouragement from the late defensive stop and the players' composure in the final minute. Sophomore guard Styles Phipps noted the team emphasis on ball movement when shots were needed: "'Get it to the guy who has the hot hand, ' Schillings told us. AC got it going in the first half, and it led to the second half. So trying to get the ball in his hands was the goal. "
With the narrow win secured, Pepperdine carries renewed confidence into its next stretch of West Coast Conference play, having demonstrated an ability to close out tight, high‑pressure contests.
