Waves Waste Plenty of Chances in 69-65 Loss to South Florida

Like the car that’s not hitting on all cylinders, the Pepperdine University basketball team continued to struggle Friday night.

The Waves wasted a career-high 30 points by senior forward Eric White as they lost to the University of South Florida, 69-65, in the opening round of the 25th Milwaukee tournament.

This latest defeat has to rank as most disheartening for the Waves (3-7). Outside of an early eight-point deficit, they never trailed by more than four--or led by more than three against a team they should have been able to beat--and had a number of chances to win.

But it was one of those games in which the Waves would have had trouble throwing the ball into nearby Lake Michigan from the beach. They missed five layins in the first half, then, trying their luck from the outside in the second half, made just 3 of 17 attempts from more than 15 feet.

Nobody had a tougher time than junior guard Ed Allen. Allen was 2 for 11 in the game and missed all six of his second-half tries, including three in the final 2:23.

“We had enough shots to win,” Waves’ Coach Jim Harrick said. “We’re just not making the shots.

“If we make those three layups the first half, now we’re up six. (South Florida) doesn’t shoot as well when they’re down six as when the score’s tied.”

Trailing, 64-61, the Waves took advantage of a deliberate foul called on Bull guard Arthur Caldwell to take their final lead of the game. Caldwell chased Wave guard Jim Harrick, the coach’s son, after a steal and grabbed him just before Harrick tried a layup with 3:48 left.

The deliberate foul gave Harrick two free throws, which he made. It also gave the Waves the ball, and White made an 18-footer from the right side to give the Waves a 65-64 lead with 3:08 left.

But that was the extent of the scoring for the Waves. Senior center Doug Wallace, who led South Florida with 22 points, gave the Bulls (2-4) the lead again on a 16-foot jumper with 2:39 left.

White, unable to get the ball as much as he would have liked down the stretch, watched Allen’s 12-footer from the lane bounce off the rim and into the hands of Caldwell with eight seconds left. Caldwell was intentionally fouled by Michael Cumberland.

Caldwell made the first free throw to make it 67-65 but missed the second. White grabbed the rebound but had the ball taken away by Wallace, who fed Keith Jordan for a dunk that clinched it with three seconds left.

Pepperdine will play Columbia (4-4) in the consolation game today at 4:30 PST. Marquette, the host school, beat Columbia, 79-68, in double overtime in Friday night’s other game.