KEYS TO THE GAME

STYLE OF PLAY: Pepperdine will try to use its depth and quickness to wear down Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons have become an up-tempo team under first-year Coach Skip Prosser, but they don’t press as much as the Waves and might be more comfortable in a half-court game. Look for Wake Forest to challenge Pepperdine’s interior defense by pounding the ball inside to 6-foot-9, 248-pound Darius Songaila.

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MATCHUP TO WATCH: Terrance Johnson vs. Craig Dawson. Pepperdine needs Johnson to regain his shooting touch after the freshman made only eight of 24 shots, including two of 13 from three-point range, in the West Coast Conference tournament. Dawson led the Atlantic Coast Conference in three-point percentage (43%). He needs to be on his game to take the pressure off Wake Forest’s big men.

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INTANGIBLES: Glen McGowan is what coaches call an elevator player: up one day, down the next. If the 6-8 sophomore can contribute quality minutes off the bench, it would be a boost for the Waves.

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MAGIC NUMBERS: Pepperdine is 21-0 when it shoots a higher percentage than an opponent. Rebounding is another key for the Waves, who are 15-0 when they at least match an opponent on the boards.

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FINAL ANALYSIS: Pepperdine will move to the second round if it buckles down on defense and creates fastbreak opportunities.