Getty Image
The Pacific basketball team took on rival Pepperdine in the opening round of the WCC Tournament on Thursday, which ended in blowout fashion.
Entering the game without a coach, the Tigers struggled throughout the matchup, scoring just nine points in the first half.
It continued a season of struggles for Pacific.
The group went just 6-26 in the regular season, including an embarrassing 0-16 mark in league play. In fact, the Tigers ended the year on a 16-game losing streak with their last win coming before the New Year.
That led to Leonard Perry’s… um, firing…?
We say that because Pacific worded the demotion as being “reassigned to other duties.” What those other duties are, we don’t know. What we do know is Perry will no longer be leading the Tigers on the court, and that was the case on Thursday.
Pepperdine, who also came into the tournament having recently fired its leader, took no mercy on their rival. They weren’t about to be the team to end that losing skid, and they didn’t care if the other side had a coach or not!
After building a 47-point first half lead, they cruised to a 59-point victory – easily the Waves’ most impressive performance of the year.
had to bring the halftime graphic back for this one pic.twitter.com/s4WxafbjYC
— Pepperdine Men’s Basketball (@PeppBasketball) March 7, 2024
And they trolled every step of the way!
It was smooth sailing for the Waves, who scored the first 26 points of the night. Pacific was held off the scoreboard for the first seven minutes of action, and those first two points did little to spark the scoring efforts.
The Tigers scored just seven points over the next 13 minutes, having lost the game before it really got started. In fact, they admitted defeat even before that final buzzer.
Still a few mins left in this one but we’re calling gg @PeppBasketball
Pacific will move to 43-37 all-time against Pepperdine including 6-4 on a neutral court.#PacificProud pic.twitter.com/oqbRYvjUc9
— Pacific Men’s Basketball (@PacificMensBB) March 8, 2024
Pepperdine made sure to rub salt in the wound.
is this how gonz*ga feels every night
— Pepperdine Men’s Basketball (@PeppBasketball) March 7, 2024
Brutal.
With the loss, the Tigers’ season ended in disappointing fashion. Hopefully the next coach has better luck.
While Pacific’s year is through, Pepperdine will play on in the WCC tournament.