Pepperdine Wraps Up WCC Title

With the opportunity to clinch at least a tie for first place in the West Coast Conference or win the title outright, Pepperdine decided to go for it against Portland Saturday night.

The Waves, who led by as many as 19 points in the first half, routed Portland, 81-58, before 2,549 at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

Pepperdine (17-8 overall, 11-1 in the WCC) won its 11th consecutive game. The Waves won the conference championship because the University of San Diego (16-9, 8-4), second in the WCC, lost in double overtime at St. Mary’s, 90-88.

Dana Jones, Pepperdine’s freshman forward from North Hollywood High, did most of the early damage to Portland (4-21, 2-10).

Jones scored 16 points, all in the first half, on eight-of-14 shooting. He was sidelined for much of the second half after he collided with Portland’s Matt Houle with 13:11 remaining.

Jones fell to the court in pain, and Houle was assessed a personal foul. Jones said Houle’s knee caught him on the thigh but that he did not believe it was intentional.

Portland Coach Larry Steele said that Jones “is an outstanding freshman. The thing I don’t like about him is that we have to see him for the next three years.”

Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said Jones’ bruised thigh shouldn’t keep him out of action in next week’s final conference games Thursday night at Santa Clara and Saturday night at San Diego.

The Waves led, 60-37, with 14:15 remaining, but the Pilots began to show signs of life. Portland went on a 19-8 run to make it 68-56.

But Pepperdine, getting six points from Doug Christie and four from Geoff Lear in the next three minutes, opened a 78-58 lead with 59 seconds left.

Lear had 27 points on 12-of-18 shooting and added 11 rebounds. Christie finished with 21 points, seven assists and five steals. Pepperdine shot 55.6% in the first half and 49.3% for the game; Portland shot 37.7%. The Waves outrebounded the Pilots, 44-34.

Portland, averaging 19.2 turnovers entering the game, had 19 to only nine for Pepperdine.

“We lost our concentration a little bit (during Portland’s run),” Asbury said. “But we knew they were going to fight back, and they shoot the three pretty well.”

David Roth scored 21 points for Portland, making five of nine three-point shots.

Asbury said that it is always Pepperdine’s goal to get into postseason play.

“We’re not a lock to do that yet, but we have certainly taken some appropriate steps toward doing it.”