MALIBU, Calif. - The second-seed and fifth-ranked Pepperdine Waves used home pool advantage and key scoring runs to lift them to a 14-12 win over eighth-ranked and fourth-seeded Long Beach State to win the 2019 Golden Coast Conference Men's Water Polo Championship. The tournament title is the Waves' second since 2016 and earns them the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

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After the first quarter, the Beach led 5-4. From there, it was all about scoring runs. The Waves scored five straight to take a 9-5 lead only to see Long Beach State go on a four-goal run of their own to tie it at 9-9 with 5:34 to play in the third quarter.

The teams would score as the score sat at 10-10. With three seconds left in the third, Pepperdine's Jake Gordon scored a big goal on his only shot of the game to give the Waves the lead for good, 11-10. 

Balazs Kosa would give the Waves a key two-goal lead. Long Beach State would cut the lead to one goal on two occassions but could not find the tying goal. 

Kosa led the Waves (24-7) with four goals and two assists. He was named to the GCC All-Tournament team. Sean Thomas, who had two goals and three steals, was named to the All-Tournament Team as well as earning MVP honors. Mate Toth was also named to the All-Tourmament Team and had a goal, an assst and two steals.

Austin Stewart, who earned All-Tournament Team honors, led Long Beach State (18-13) with four goals, an assist and five steals. Goalie Marwan Darwish had seven saves and was also named All-Tournament Team.

The Waves enter the National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship winners of seven straight.