Korfas Steals One for Pepperdine, 76-75

For Pepperdine, it was time for a miracle finish. And Jon Korfas was the miracle-worker.

With 18 seconds left, Korfas stole an inbounds pass and made a reverse layup to give the Waves a Thursday’s Game 76-75 come-from-behind win over Portland in front of a crowd of 2,116 Thursday night at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

Korfas scored a game-high 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field and 7 of 8 from the foul line as Pepperdine raised its overall record to 15-7 and took over sole possession of first place in the West Coast Athletic Conference with a 4-1 mark. Gonzaga, Santa Clara and St. Mary’s are each 3-1.

“I can’t believe we won,” said Pepperdine Coach Jim Harrick, whose team trailed Portland, 73-65, with 2:46 left in the game. “I feel very fortunate.”

Dave Flint, who finished with 15 points for Portland, had converted on a three-point play to make it 73-65, and Pepperdine’s Dwayne Polee, who scored 20 points, fouled out on the play.

Then Pepperdine’s fortunes started rising. Anthony Frederick hit a short jumper, Levy Middlebrooks made a 10-footer from the side and Korfas, who also finished with a game-high eight assists, hit a turnaround 18-footer to pull the Waves within two points, 73-71.

But Portland’s Dan Hunt made a 12-footer from the side and the Pilots led, 75-71. Hunt fell on his back after he shot, and it looked as if Middlebrooks had fouled him. But no foul was called.

Pepperdine’s Marty Wilson hit one of two free throws to make it 75-72, and Brian Fundingsland, who led Portland with 16 points, stepped out of bounds while bringing the ball up.

Fundingsland then fouled Korfas, who made both free throws to pull the Waves within 75-74 with 21 seconds on the clock.

Portland’s Dan Hunt tried to inbound the ball to Fundingsland. But Korfas stole the pass and made the game-winning basket. Portland, its record dropping to 10-10 and 0-5, couldn’t get off a shot as time ran out.