MALIBU, Calif. – Eyassu Worku had a career-high 26 points in UC Irvine's 77-73 loss to Pepperdine Saturday, at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Worku was 9-14 shooting from the floor and 3-4 from the three point line. His three 3's tie a career-best and 26 points were a game-high.

UCI drops is first game of the season moving to 1-1 on the season and snaps a nine-game road winning streak that ended as the second best in the country. Pepperdine moves to 1-1 overall.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Along with Worku, Brad Greene and Tommy Rutherford finished with 10 points apiece
> Collin Welp had a team-best nine rebounds while Isaiah Lee dished out four assists
> UCI shot 46.4 percent overall from the floor and 31.3% from long range
> The Waves were 24-56 (.429) overall and 39.1 percent (9-23) from the three-point line
> Kameron Edwards led the Waves with 21 points and 10 boards
> UCI outscored Pepperdine 28-20 in the paint and 25-10 off the bench while the Waves held advantages in points off turnovers (14-10), fast breaks (13-4) and second chance points (8-6)

TURNING POINTS
First Half
> UCI jumped out to a 10-5 lead after a 7-0 run that started with a John Edgar Jr. jumper at 16:18
> Worku scored seven points in a 9-4 run for the 'Eaters that gave them a nine-point, 21-12, lead at 11:38
> A jumper followed by a layup from Worku gave UCI a double-digit, 30-17, lead (9:02)
> Austin Johnson made a layup followed by a free throw to put the 'Eaters up by 13, 35-22, with 6:09 to play
> The Waves used a 10-4 run in the final four minutes to cut the lead to three, 41-38, heading into the locker rooms
> UCI shot 55.6 percent overall from the floor while Worku led the 'Eaters with 17 points  

Second Half
> Pepperdine opened the second half on a 7-0 run to take a 45-41 lead (17:57)
> Edgar Jr. drained a three followed by a layup by Johnson that gave the 'Eaters a 50-49 advantage at 12:54
> Neither team would gain more than a three-point lead until Worku hit a three followed by a made free throw by Welp to give UCI a 65-60 edge (5:56)
> The Anteaters went on an 8-2 run fueled by three jumpers from Rutherford that put them up by nine, 73-64, with 2:11 to play
> The Waves made three-straight 3's down the stretch to come from behind and earn the 77-73 victory

NOTES: UCI moves to 1-1 on the season against WCC teams … Freshman Jeron Artest and redshirt freshman Aiden Krause both scored their first career points … The 'Eaters fall to 10-13 all-time against the Waves

UP NEXT
> UCI returns home to play Life Pacific Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.