Loyola and Pepperdine Survive, Meet in WCAC Semifinals : Waves Block Out Upset Attempt by San Diego, 72-69

Pepperdine took a difficult route to today’s West Coast Athletic Conference tournament semifinals, losing an early 17-point lead and then rallying from a 10-point deficit to defeat the University of San Diego, 72-69, Saturday.

The Waves play Loyola at 5 p.m. today in the semifinals.

Saturday’s game was decided in the final seconds, when senior guard Marty Wilson blocked two three-point shots by Gylan Dottin to secure the victory.

Tom Lewis scored 24 points--16 in the second half--and had nine rebounds as the second-seeded Waves (19-10) held off the Toreros.

“That was real scary,” Wave Coach Tom Asbury said. “We haven’t played well all year with a big (early) lead. At least we had enough to get it done at the end. That’s all that matters.”

Pepperdine controlled the game for most of the first half, riding eight early points from Dexter Howard and five from Craig Davis to a 18-4 run, building a 27-10 lead.

But San Diego (8-20) cut most of the advantage in the last two minutes of the first half. Reserves Kelvin Woods and Efrem Leonard both scored seven points in the half, and Woods’ free throws with 25 seconds left brought the Toreros to within 32-28.

San Diego continued its assault in the second half, working the ball to Woods for a series of back-door layups as the Toreros caught the Waves at 34-34 and took their first lead, 38-37, on Keith Colvin’s rebound basket.

Pepperdine briefly regained the lead, 44-42, before San Diego went on a 9-0 run, including six points by Woods, to build a seven-point lead. That was expanded to 56-46 on a three-point play by Craig Cottrell with 9:55 to play.

That was when Pepperdine’s experience began to show against the young Toreros. Shann Ferch made a three-pointer, Lewis scored in traffic, Wilson scored his first five points and the Waves went on a 13-0 run.

Cottrell’s free throws with 26 seconds left drew San Diego to within 70-69 before Rick Welch scored his only points, cooly converting two free throws for the final margin.

Wilson then blocked Dottin’s shots as the game ended.

“He’s our heart and soul,” Asbury said of Wilson. “Those blocks were clean as a whistle.”

Said Wilson: “I just knew we had to get a good defensive session those last few seconds. During dead balls I tried to encourage the guys. I didn’t want to go out losing to a seventh-place team.”

Woods had 21 points and eight rebounds for San Diego.

Asbury said he hopes the close call “will really sharpen our senses. If we don’t play well we’re just another team that can pick up our airplane tickets (home).”