USD Withstands Pepperdine Rally : Leonard’s Free Throws Clinch a Waves’ Victory, 69-66

It wasn’t a night at the big top, or a three-ring circus, but there were some interesting performances in the University of San Diego’s 69-66 victory over Pepperdine Saturday night in the USD Sports Center.

As a standing-room-only crowd of 2,500-plus looked on, the usually reliable USD ballhandlers performed more like members of a wobbly high-wire act in the final minute.

Pepperdine, which had trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half, had a chance to tie in the final second, but Ed Allen’s off-balance three-pointer rolled in then back out.

USD (7-1 in the West Coast Athletic Conference, 16-4 overall) is still in first place by a half-game over Gonzaga. Pepperdine, defending conference champion, fell to 2-5, 7-13--good for last place in the WCAC.

Playing a lead role Saturday was USD guard Paul Leonard, who thrilled the crowd with his ballhandling throughout the game and kept everyone on the edge of their seats by missing four of his first five free-throw attempts. However, with 49 seconds remaining and USD clinging to a one-point lead, Leonard stepped to the line and made two straight to give the Toreros a 69-66 cushion that held.

“I’ll tell ya, that kid Leonard steadies them,” Pepperdine Coach Jim Harrick said. “They had a couple-too-many guns for us.”

For a while, it looked as if USD was going to win easily. The Toreros led comfortably throughout but could not put away Pepperdine.

Eric White, who had a slow first half, shot better after intermission. He finished the game making 11 of 16 shots, scored 28 points and had 13 rebounds to lead Pepperdine’s rally.

The Waves trailed, 64-57, with 2:15 remaining.

Just as the crowd started singing its goodbyes, Craig Davis hit a three-pointer to bring the Waves within four.

Then Nils Madden fumbled a pass at midcourt and Danny Means fouled White in the ensuing scramble. White hit a free throw to make it 64-61. The Toreros increased their lead to six on a Leonard free throw and a tap-in by Mark Manor, but they left Davis open the other end.

Davis hit another three-pointer, and USD called a timeout.

Next came the acrobatics. After Donny Moore’s steal and Dexter Howard’s two free throws, the Waves were within a point at 67-66. Means then threw a pass over Leonard’s head from the backcourt.

“I just panicked, and then I gave up on it,” Leonard said.

However, Madden came out of nowhere, leaped and rescued it from press row, sending the ball back onto the court where Leonard grabbed it. He was fouled and his two free throws made it 69-66.

With 49 seconds remaining, Pepperdine got off three three-point shots. White and Davis missed the first two, but Means fumbled a rebound and White tied him up with two seconds left. The arrow pointed Pepperdine’s way, giving the Waves one last chance.

Egan ordered his team to not allow a three-point attempt, but Pepperdine got one away anyway--and Allen’s shot appeared true.

“I thought it was in all the way,” Egan said.

But it fell out.

Scott Thompson led USD with 18 points. Leonard added 16, and Madden had 14.

“They put a lot of pressure on us and we probably didn’t handle it as well as we should have,” Egan said. “But, we did hang in there and make the plays when we needed to. We were a bit lucky . . . and that’s great.”