San Francisco Takes Fast Lead, Holds Off Waves

Senior forward Anthony Mann scored 16 points, and junior Pat Giusti added 12 to lead the University of San Francisco to a 61-54 victory over Pepperdine in their West Coast Athletic Conference basketball opener Friday night.

USF jumped out to a 20-8 lead after eight minutes. The Dons improved their lead to 15 with 2:05 left, 32-17, and continued to lead at halftime, 33-21.

Pepperdine cut into the Dons’ lead in the second half and trailed by only six with 18:40 left, 35-29. After a USF timeout, the Dons outscored the Waves, 11-4, over the next 5:17 to imporve their lead 46-33 with 12:20 remaining.

Pepperdine then came within five points of USF with 5:30 left, 52-47, but the Dons made several key free throws in the final minutes to clinch the win.

Senior forward Eric White led Pepperdine with 20 points and also had 8 rebounds. Guard Ed Allen scored 14, and center Casey Crawford added 10 for the Waves.

USF improved to 11-3 overall and 1-0 in the WCAC. Pepperdine is 4-9 and 0-1.