Portland Pilots Defeat Pepperdine Waves 77-68
Thursday, March 5, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · Orleans Arena
Portland Pilots 77, Pepperdine Waves 68, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Pepperdine Waves vs Portland Pilots?
Portland Pilots beat Pepperdine Waves 77-68 at Orleans Arena on March 5, 2026.
Who was favored in Pepperdine Waves vs Portland Pilots?
Portland Pilots were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -170 (about 63% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup at the Orleans Arena, the Portland Pilots secured a 77-68 victory over the Pepperdine Waves. This game was particularly noteworthy as it marked a turnaround for the Pilots, who had struggled in recent weeks, including a previous loss to the Waves just weeks prior. The win improved Portland's record to 14-18, while Pepperdine fell to 9-23.
The Pilots entered the game with a mixed recent form, holding a record of 3-7 in their last ten games. They had averaged 67.4 points per game while allowing 78.6. Their last five games showed a slight dip in scoring, averaging 67.8 points while allowing 80.0. Notably, Portland had just come off a win against the San Diego Toreros, where they triumphed 87-74, providing them with a boost of confidence.
In contrast, the Waves also had a record of 3-7 in their last ten games, but they had been scoring more effectively, averaging 79.3 points per game while conceding 87.5. Their most recent game saw them defeat Washington State Cougars 88-79, indicating a potential offensive resurgence. However, their overall form remained inconsistent, particularly in away games, where they had only managed one win in their last five outings.
The matchup between these two teams had been competitive in their recent meetings, with Portland holding a 2-3 record against Pepperdine in their last five encounters. Their previous clash on February 19, 2026, ended in a loss for the Pilots, with a final score of 87-95. This context added an extra layer of excitement to the game, as Portland sought to avenge that defeat.
In terms of injuries, both teams had their share of challenges, but the block does not provide specific details on the players affected. However, it is common for teams to navigate injuries as they approach the end of the season, which can impact performance.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Portland favored by 3.5 points, with a total set at 154.5. The odds indicated a competitive matchup, reflecting the close nature of their previous encounters and the teams' performances leading up to this game.
The conditions at Orleans Arena were conducive for basketball, with both teams looking to capitalize on their strengths. Portland's home record was 3-2 in their last five games, while Pepperdine struggled with a 1-4 away record, which may have played a role in the outcome.
As the game unfolded, Portland established a lead and maintained it through key scoring plays in the second half. Notable moments included Luka Vudragovic's layup and Dante Censori-Hercules's contributions that helped extend the Pilots' lead. The final scoring plays showcased Portland's ability to execute under pressure, ultimately sealing their victory.
Portland's win probability was noted at 1.0 by the end of the game, indicating a dominant performance in the closing moments. The Pilots' ability to respond to their previous loss against Pepperdine and secure a victory in this contest highlights the competitive nature of college basketball and the importance of momentum as teams head into the postseason.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | PORT -3.5 | 154.5 o -110 / u -110 | Pepperdine Waves +142 · Portland Pilots -170 |
Leaders
- PointsJermaine Ballisager Webb22Portland Pilots
- AssistsJoel Foxwell8Portland Pilots
- ReboundsDante Censori-Hercules9Portland Pilots
- PointsJavon Cooley15Pepperdine Waves
- AssistsStyles Phipps7Pepperdine Waves
- ReboundsJavon Cooley10Pepperdine Waves
Recent form
Portland Pilots
Last 10: 3-7Streak W167.4 scored · 78.6 allowed per game3-2 at home
- W87-74vs San Diego TorerosFeb 28
- L48-89at Gonzaga BulldogsFeb 26
- L59-71at Seattle U RedhawksFeb 22
- L87-95vs Pepperdine WavesFeb 19
- L58-71at San Diego TorerosFeb 12
- W54-53vs Seattle U RedhawksFeb 8
- W87-80vs Gonzaga BulldogsFeb 5
- L74-104at Washington State CougarsJan 31
- L51-74at Pacific TigersJan 29
- L69-75vs Saint Mary's GaelsJan 25
Pepperdine Waves
Last 10: 3-7Streak W179.3 scored · 87.5 allowed per game1-4 away
- W88-79vs Washington State CougarsMar 1
- L80-87vs Seattle U RedhawksFeb 26
- L73-83at Oregon State BeaversFeb 22
- W95-87at Portland PilotsFeb 19
- W90-89vs Loyola Marymount LionsFeb 14
- L60-88at Saint Mary's GaelsFeb 12
- L59-92vs Pacific TigersFeb 8
- L81-83at Seattle U RedhawksFeb 5
- L88-92vs San Diego TorerosJan 29
- L79-95at Washington State CougarsJan 24
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 31-4 | - | 16-2 |
| Saint Mary's | 27-6 | - | 16-2 |
| Santa Clara | 26-9 | 1 | 15-3 |
| Oregon State | 17-16 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Seattle U | 21-14 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Pacific | 18-15 | 8 | 8-10 |
| San Francisco | 17-16 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Washington State | 12-20 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Loyola Marymount | 15-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Portland | 15-19 | 10 | 6-12 |
| San Diego | 12-21 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Pepperdine | 9-23 | 12 | 4-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Pepperdine Waves | Portland Pilots |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-70 | 29-59 |
| Field goal % | 36 | 49 |
| Three-pointers | 8-28 | 7-17 |
| Three-point % | 29 | 41 |
| Free throws | 10-18 | 12-21 |
| Free throw % | 56 | 57 |
| Rebounds | 43 | 41 |
| Offensive rebounds | 19 | 12 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 29 |
| Assists | 16 | 23 |
| Steals | 6 | 6 |
| Blocks | 1 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 6 | 15 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 1 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 42 |
| Fouls | 21 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 12 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 99 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half34-42Nikola Radovanovic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half35-42Nikola Radovanovic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half35-44James O'Donnell makes layup (Cameron Williams assists)
- 1st Half36-44Styles Phipps makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half38-44Javon Cooley makes layup
- 2nd Half40-44Stefan Cicic makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half42-44Styles Phipps makes 9-foot turnaround jump shot (Yonatan Levy assists)
- 2nd Half42-46Garrett Nuckolls makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half44-46Yonatan Levy makes layup (Styles Phipps assists)
- 2nd Half44-48Joel Foxwell makes driving layup
- 2nd Half44-50Jermaine Ballisager Webb makes 4-foot jumper (Garrett Nuckolls assists)
- 2nd Half44-51Joel Foxwell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-54Jermaine Ballisager Webb makes 24-foot three point jumper (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half44-56James O'Donnell makes layup (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half47-56Javon Cooley makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half47-58James O'Donnell makes layup (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half49-58Pavle Stošic makes layup
- 2nd Half49-60Cameron Williams makes layup (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half51-60Stefan Cicic makes 3-foot dunk (Styles Phipps assists)
- 2nd Half53-60David Mager makes driving layup
- 2nd Half53-61Cameron Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-62Cameron Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-62Nikola Radovanovic makes 26-foot three point jumper (Styles Phipps assists)
- 2nd Half56-63Mikah Ballew makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half56-64Mikah Ballew makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half56-66James O'Donnell makes 6-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half59-66Yonatan Levy makes 27-foot three point jumper (Styles Phipps assists)
- 2nd Half59-69Jermaine Ballisager Webb makes 24-foot three point jumper (Garrett Nuckolls assists)
- 2nd Half59-70Jermaine Ballisager Webb makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-70Styles Phipps makes 4-foot alley oop dunk (Yonatan Levy assists)
- 2nd Half61-71Garrett Nuckolls makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-72Garrett Nuckolls makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-72Luka Vudragovic makes layup (Yonatan Levy assists)
- 2nd Half63-74Dante Censori-Hercules makes layup (Jermaine Ballisager Webb assists)
- 2nd Half63-75Jermaine Ballisager Webb makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-75Vladimir Sudar makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-75Vladimir Sudar makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-77James O'Donnell makes layup (Garrett Nuckolls assists)
- 2nd Half66-77Pavle Stošic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-77Pavle Stošic makes layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Portland Pilots, below favours Pepperdine Waves.
Venue
- Orleans ArenaLas Vegas, NV
- Attendance1242
- OfficialsLee Cassell, Marques Pettigrew, Jeffrey Anderson
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