For much of the game, neither team could figure out how to stop the other. The Waves scored the first eight points of the game, and took a 50-43 halftime lead on the strength of Miggins' 13 points and a 61.5% shooting performance as a team. But Portland hit nine three-pointers in the half to stay close.

The breakneck scoring pace did not let up after halftime. Though the Waves led my as many as eleven early in the second half, Portland fought back to within 75-72 with eight minutes to play.

But the Waves simply had too many weapons for the Pilots to keep up. They scored the next eight points to extend the lead to eleven, and steadily pulled away for the final 21-point margin.

Seven Waves scored in double figures, and every member of the roster saw action. Glen McGowan showed he can score even when having an off night, as he shrugged off a 2-9 shooting performance by getting to the line at will, shooting 11-12 from the stripe and finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Like McGowan, Craig Lewis, who was expected to be the Waves' top player this year, has happily accepted the role of instant offense off the bench. Lewis scored 15 points on a crisp 5-8 shooting and collected five rebounds in just 19 minutes.

Other Waves contributing to the offensive assault were Boomer Brazzle (14 points), Terrance Johnson (14), and Devin Montgomery (11 points, 5 assists).

Gary Colbert, in particular, seemed to spark the Waves. Though he did not see his first action until five minutes into the second half, the transfer point guard collected 10 points, three assists, three steals and a blocked shot in just 13 minutes. Colbert's defense pushed the tempo and broke the Pilots' backs in the key run over the final minutes.

Cedric Suitt, though the only Wave with significant playing time not to score in double figures, made an impact with six points, seven rebounds, and four blocks.

Once again, the Waves dominated the backboards, outrebounding the Pilots 41-27. Pepperdine also seemed to make every shot, nailing 61% of their field goals (36-59), 55% of their threes (11-20), and 84% of their free throws (26-31). McGowan's propensity for rebounds and getting to the line has transformed the whole team into a group that does these things exceptionally well.

Coky Rochin kept the Pilots close with 20 points and seven rebounds, hitting a perfect 12-12 from the stripe. The 260-pound center, who ranks in the top 15 nationally in rebounding and averages a double-double, owned the post while the other seven Pilots to see action spent most of their time spotting up for threes. They shot 12-31 (39%) for the night from long distance.

But it was all for naught for a team that lost its tenth straight game, and whose upset of Oregon must seem like a whole lot more than 48 days ago.

Notes:

* Miggins was a perfect 8-8 from the field. The school record for shooting accuracy is owned by Dana Jones, who hit 14-14 in a 1992 game, part of a string of 17 in a row.

* The Waves scored 100 points for the first time since a 116-76 dismantling of Oral Roberts nine years ago. In that game, Bryan Parker set a school record with 17 assists.