Pepperdine Waves Edge Portland Pilots in Close Contest
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · Firestone Fieldhouse
Pepperdine Waves 67, Portland Pilots 63, 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 Portland Pilots vs Pepperdine Waves?
Pepperdine Waves beat Portland Pilots 67-63 at Firestone Fieldhouse on January 14, 2026.
Who was favored in Portland Pilots vs Pepperdine Waves?
Portland Pilots were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -130 (about 57% implied). The underdog won.
In a tightly contested matchup at Firestone Fieldhouse, the Pepperdine Waves secured a narrow victory over the Portland Pilots, finishing with a score of 67-63. This win marks a significant moment for the Waves, who have struggled throughout the season, boasting a home record of 6-14 and an overall record of 7-14 after this game. The victory comes as a much-needed boost, especially considering their recent form, which included a six-game losing streak leading into this matchup.
The Waves' recent performance has been characterized by inconsistency. In their last ten games, they recorded a 2-8 record, with an average of 64.4 points scored and 75.7 points allowed per game. Their last five games were particularly challenging, as they averaged only 60.0 points while allowing 78.2 points. The Waves had not won since December 21, 2025, before this game, which adds weight to the importance of this victory.
On the other hand, the Portland Pilots came into the game with a record of 9-11, having won four of their last ten games. They were riding a two-game winning streak, with an average of 76.6 points scored and 81.3 points allowed in their last ten outings. However, they struggled on the road, holding an away record of 0-4 in their last four games, which may have impacted their performance against the Waves.
Historically, the Waves and Pilots have faced off three times in the previous season, with the Pilots leading the series 2-1. In their last meeting on March 8, 2025, the Pilots emerged victorious with an 86-73 win. The Waves had hoped to turn the tide in this matchup, and they succeeded, showcasing resilience and determination.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific information on player availability, but given the context of both teams' struggles, it is likely that any absence of key players could have had a significant impact on their performance.
The betting market, provided by DraftKings, had the Pilots as 1.5-point favorites, with a total set at 147.5 points. The odds reflected a close contest, indicating that the matchup was expected to be competitive. The Waves' victory not only defied the odds but also highlighted their potential to compete despite their challenging season.
Conditions in Firestone Fieldhouse were conducive to basketball, providing a solid environment for both teams to showcase their skills. As the game progressed, the Waves demonstrated their ability to execute under pressure, particularly in the second half. Key moments included a series of scoring plays led by Aaron Clark, who made crucial free throws and a tip-in layup that helped the Waves maintain their lead.
As the game unfolded, viewers were treated to a showcase of determination from both sides, with the Waves ultimately proving to be the more resilient team. The final moments were particularly tense, with the Pilots attempting to mount a comeback but ultimately falling short. This victory for the Waves could serve as a turning point in their season, offering a glimpse of hope as they look to build on this success moving forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | PORT -1.5 | 147.5 o -115 / u -105 | Portland Pilots -130 · Pepperdine Waves +110 |
Leaders
- PointsAaron Clark18Pepperdine Waves
- AssistsAaron Clark4Pepperdine Waves
- ReboundsAaron Clark8Pepperdine Waves
- PointsCameron Williams14Portland Pilots
- AssistsJoel Foxwell10Portland Pilots
- ReboundsCameron Williams12Portland Pilots
Recent form
Pepperdine Waves
Last 10: 2-8Streak L664.4 scored · 75.7 allowed per game1-4 at home
- L60-80vs San Francisco DonsJan 11
- L63-83at San Diego TorerosJan 9
- L69-74at Pacific TigersJan 5
- L63-82at Santa Clara BroncosJan 3
- L45-72vs Saint Mary's GaelsDec 31
- L56-96vs Gonzaga BulldogsDec 29
- W84-62vs Rice OwlsDec 21
- L78-81at Long Beach State BeachDec 19
- W70-62at Cal State Bakersfield RoadrunnersDec 14
- L56-65vs Vermont CatamountsDec 6
Portland Pilots
Last 10: 4-6Streak W276.6 scored · 81.3 allowed per game0-4 away
- W82-76vs Oregon State BeaversJan 11
- W90-89vs Pacific TigersJan 9
- L68-73at San Francisco DonsJan 5
- L57-78at Saint Mary's GaelsJan 3
- L85-92vs Santa Clara BroncosDec 31
- L62-67vs Washington State CougarsDec 28
- L61-79at UC Santa Barbara GauchosDec 22
- L69-94at Oregon DucksDec 18
- W88-78vs Kent State Golden FlashesDec 14
- W104-87vs Lewis & Clark River OttersDec 6
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 | Portland Pilots | Pepperdine Waves |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-66 | 24-53 |
| Field goal % | 38 | 45 |
| Three-pointers | 7-33 | 7-23 |
| Three-point % | 21 | 30 |
| Free throws | 6-9 | 12-20 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 60 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 14 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 27 |
| Assists | 18 | 9 |
| Steals | 7 | 9 |
| Blocks | 3 | 0 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 13 | 15 |
| Fast-break points | 0 | 2 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 32 |
| Fouls | 19 | 13 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 6 |
| Lead changes | 7 | 7 |
| Time in front | 43 | 47 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half27-27Cameron Williams makes free throw 1 of 1
- 1st Half27-28Styles Phipps makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half27-29Styles Phipps makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half29-29James O'Donnell makes 2-foot hook shot (Dante Censori-Hercules assists)
- 1st Half29-32David Mager makes 26-foot three point jumper (Aaron Clark assists)
- 1st Half32-32Joel Foxwell makes 26-foot three point jumper (Dante Censori-Hercules assists)
- 2nd Half32-34Styles Phipps makes driving layup (Danilo Dožic assists)
- 2nd Half35-34Mikah Ballew makes 26-foot three point jumper (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half35-35Styles Phipps makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half35-36Styles Phipps makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-36James O'Donnell makes layup (Dante Censori-Hercules assists)
- 2nd Half37-38Danilo Dožic makes layup
- 2nd Half40-38Mikah Ballew makes 24-foot three point jumper (James O'Donnell assists)
- 2nd Half40-40Aaron Clark makes driving layup
- 2nd Half42-40James O'Donnell makes layup (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half44-40James O'Donnell makes layup (Dante Censori-Hercules assists)
- 2nd Half44-43Styles Phipps makes 24-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half46-43Joel Foxwell makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half46-45Danilo Dožic makes driving layup
- 2nd Half47-45James O'Donnell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-45Dante Censori-Hercules makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half49-47Javon Cooley makes driving layup
- 2nd Half51-47Jermaine Ballisager Webb makes 3-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half51-49Danilo Dožic makes 6-foot jumper (Aaron Clark assists)
- 2nd Half54-49Cameron Williams makes 30-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half54-51Aaron Clark makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half54-54Yonatan Levy makes 25-foot three point jumper (Aaron Clark assists)
- 2nd Half56-54Joel Foxwell makes driving layup
- 2nd Half57-54James O'Donnell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-54James O'Donnell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-56Yonatan Levy makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-56James O'Donnell makes layup (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half60-59Aaron Clark makes 25-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half60-60Aaron Clark makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-62Styles Phipps makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-63Aaron Clark makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-64Aaron Clark makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-66Aaron Clark makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half63-66Mikah Ballew makes 25-foot three point jumper (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half63-67Javon Cooley makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Pepperdine Waves, below favours Portland Pilots.
Venue
- Firestone FieldhouseMalibu, CA
- Attendance671
- OfficialsDeron White, Bill Vinovich, Jason Garretson
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Picks for NCAAB
NCAAB rules and settlement
These two, other days
- Portland Pilots Defeat Pepperdine Waves 77-68Mar 5, 2026
- Pepperdine Waves Defeat Portland Pilots 95-87Feb 18, 2026