MALIBU, Calif. -- Colbey Ross scored 16 points and Darnell Dunn scored on a drive through the paint to spark a late breakaway and injury-plagued Pepperdine downed UC Riverside 70-59 Tuesday night.

The Waves (3-6), already without two projected starters, lost top scorer Kameron Edwards after halftime with an unspecified injury. Nolan Taylor led with 17 points, making 9 of 10 at the foul line, Ross converted four in a row as Pepperdine sank 9 of its last 13 free throws down the stretch.

After trailing by as many as 18, the Highlanders (2-6) had closed to 44-42 when Dunn seized upon a Riverside turnover -- Riverside made a season-low 11 -- to glide to the hoop and spark a 10-2 run. Dunn's basket was followed by four consecutive layups -- one from Amadi Udenyi, and three by Ross. The last was a fast break coming off a steal and the lead was 54-44.

Riverside, could only get within nine after that. Chance Murray scored 15, Menno Dijkstra a season-high 11.