Waves Defeated on a Tip

Parity seems to have hit seven of the eight teams in the West Coast Conference.

Except for nationally ranked Loyola Marymount, the other conference teams have losing overall records. When two of the seven equals get together, it’s hard to tell which is the better team--or which is worse.

Portland, which had lost 15 of its last 16 games against Pepperdine, was not only equal but often superior to the Waves before 2,476 Friday night at Firestone Fieldhouse. The Pilots, who led by as many as 11 points in the first half, defeated the Waves, 90-88, on a tip-in by reserve forward William McDowell with one second remaining.

It was fitting that McDowell made the winning basket. He finished with a career-high 30 points.

The basket came off a missed shot from the right corner by David Roth, a play that Portland Coach Larry Steele had set up after calling a timeout with 11 seconds to play and the game tied, 88-88. In other words, it was a botched play, one of the many committed by both teams.

In the second half, the Waves went more to a full-court press, a tactic that rattled the Pilots and forced them into turnovers.

Pepperdine stayed close throughout the second half, pulling within one point twice and taking an 81-79 lead with 4:30 left. It was the first lead for the Waves since they were ahead, 14-12, about five minutes into the game.

There were several more ties and a lead change in the last few minutes. Pepperdine’s Doug Christie made the front end of a one-and-one to tie it for the last time.

Craig Davis led Pepperdine with 20 points.