The WCAC : Pepperdine and Loyola, Tied for 6th, Face Common Opponents

Down and out is not Pepperdine’s exact position in the West Coast Athletic Conference basketball race.

Down, yes. The Waves, tied for sixth place with Loyola Marymount, are 7-13 overall and 2-5 in the WCAC as they prepare to take on the University of San Diego at 7:30 tonight and St. Mary’s at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

On the road last week, the Waves dropped a 69-66 decision to conference-leading San Diego (16-4, 7-1) and were edged, 67-63, by St. Mary’s (13-9, 4-4).

But Pepperdine Coach Jim Harrick said that “it would be foolish to count us out of the conference race, especially with the league tournament.” All eight WCAC teams will be in the tournament, and the winner receives the conference’s automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.

Harrick added that the Waves “still have an excellent chance to finish among the four top teams in the league standings,” and thus earn the home-court advantage in the tournament’s first round.