Lewis Leads Pepperdine Past Colorado State, 66-62

Forward Tom Lewis scored 20 points, including two free throws with two seconds remaining, to help Pepperdine to a 66-62 victory over Colorado State Monday night in the opening round of the 22nd Volunteer tournament.

The Waves (6-3) will play Tennessee for the tournament title tonight at 5 p.m. (PST). The Volunteers (6-1) defeated Army, 75-52, in the other first-round game. The Cadets (3-4) meet Colorado State (6-2) in the consolation game.

The lead in the Pepperdine game changed six times in the second half before Craig Davis made a three-point shot with 2:44 left to put the Waves ahead for good at 63-61. Davis made 4 of 8 three-point shots and finished with 16 points.

A free throw by Lamar Wilson with 15 seconds left and the pair by Lewis clinched the victory.

Pepperdine took a 17-5 lead in the first five minutes, but the Rams got back into the game on the outside shooting of David Turcotte, who finished with 20 points, including four three-point shots.

Colorado State, which had won four straight, forced Pepperdine to go to its inside game in the second half, and forward Levy Middlebrooks responded. Middlebrooks scored 12 of his 16 points and had 10 of his game-high 13 rebounds after intermission.