Waves Face USF and Santa Clara at Home

Pepperdine’s basketball team, which opened West Coast Athletic Conference play last week with its fifth straight sweep at Gonzaga and Portland, regaining the No. 20 spot in the nation in this week’s UPI coaches’ poll, will play twice at home this weekend.

The Waves, 14-3 overall and 2-0 in the WCAC, play San Francisco at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu tonight at 7:30, then meet Santa Clara at 7:30 Saturday night.

Neither opponent would seem to pose a strong threat to the Waves. USF (6-10, 1-1), has a new team this season after having dropped the sport in 1982. The Dons have only one senior, and Santa Clara has just two.

USF and Santa Clara split their first two league games against the same opponents. The Dons beat St. Mary’s, 72-69, then fell to San Diego, 67-59. Santa Clara upset San Diego, 55-53, then lost to St. Mary’s in overtime, 71-69.