MALIBU, Calif. – Garrett White (SR/Post Falls, ID) scored a team-high 22 points as the Vanguard men's basketball team dropped a 94-80 exhibition game to Pepperdine at Firestone Fieldhouse on Tuesday evening.

The Waves, an NCAA Division I team out of the West Coast Conference, improved to 3-0 on the season. Jevon Porter led Pepperdine with 23 points while Maxwell Lewis added 21.

Phillip Willis (SR/San Diego, CA) had 10 points for the Lions, with Preston Sims (JR/Orange, CA) adding nine. Isaac Davis (SR/Valencia, CA) handed out a game-high nine assists to go along with seven points.

The Lions shot 40.5 (30-of-74) percent from the field, making 7-of-22 from three-point range. The Waves hit at a 57.6 (34-of-59) percent clip, including a 13-of-26 mark from three.

Both teams were 13-of-18 from the free throw line.

What Happened?: The Lions stayed within single digits for most of the first half. Sims made a layup to bring VU within 32-26 at the 7:52 mark.

White knocked down a three and Davis made one-of-two free throws to make the score 40-33 Waves with 3:31 left. White sank another jumper at the 1:16 mark, but a three from Mike Mitchell Jr. with three seconds left handed Pepperdine a 49-37 lead at halftime.

The Waves maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game, eventually opening up a 26-point advantage at 86-60 with 5:38 remaining. VU outscored the Waves 20-8 the rest of the way.

What's Next?: Vanguard opens Golden State Athletic Conference play on Saturday at Life Pacific. Tip time is 7:30 p.m.