Pepperdine Tries to Finish in Middle

Pepperdine used to make its own breaks in winning five of the last six West Coast Athletic Conference basketball championships. Now, in the last two weeks of conference action, the Waves will need a break or two to finish in the middle of the pack.

The Waves (9-15 overall, 4-7 in the WCAC) will play their last two regular-season home games this weekend, against Santa Clara (14-11, 5-6) at 7:30 tonight and against the University of San Francisco at 7:30 Saturday night at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

Coach Jim Harrick, whose Waves are tied for sixth place with USF, is hoping for a two-game sweep and at least a fourth-place finish for his team. The top four teams will play at home in the first round of the WCAC tournament Feb. 28.