Junior guard Caleb Willis scored 18 points, leading the Pepperdine Waves to a 59-50 win over the Division III Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens. in the regular season opener to the 2011-2012 college basketball season. New Waves coach Marty Wilson, who was an assistant coach at the school for 21 years, won his debut as head coach.

Willis, who scored all of 37 points in 24 games last season, started and played 31 minutes in the opener, making five of his seven field goal attempts, including four of five shots from beyond the arc. Taylor Darby added 14 points and six rebounds for Pepperdine, who outrebounded Pomona-Pitzer 42-29.

Pepperdine led by just one at the break, 26-25. Center Corbin Moore had 10 rebounds in just 17 minutes for the Waves.

Pepperdine improved to 41-33 all-time in series openers, though this was just their second win in their last 10 season openers. The Waves have a considerably tougher opponent in their next contest, traveling to Tempe to battle the Arizona St. Sun Devils.