First basketball game of the season
date Saturday, November 25, 1972
location Culver City
In their first game of the 1972-1973 season, coach Gary Colson's Waves beat Doane University 101-90 behind an explosive performance by star William "Bird" Averitt. The junior's 43 points (including 16 in a row at one point) fell just shy of the school record of 44 set in 1953 by Bob Morris.1 Averitt's 44 has not been surpassed since 1972, except by Averitt himself (five separate times in the 1972-1973 season).
Averitt had help from freshman forward Dick Skophammer, who was allowed to play on the varsity squad thanks to a new rule instituted by the NCAA.2 Skophammer contributed 10 points and 11 boards.1
The game took place at Veteran's Memorial Auditorium in Culver City, the Waves' home court while Firestone Fieldhouse was under construction. It took place directly after the men's volleyball game, which had to be cut short so the basketball game could start on time.3
Sources
- The Graphic, 12/1/72, p. 3 (Pepperdine University Archives)
- The Graphic, 1/13/72, p. 3 (Pepperdine University Archives)
- The Graphic, 12/1/72, p. 3 (Pepperdine University Archives)
