Jones and Christie Lead Pepperdine

Dana Jones scored 22 points and Doug Christie added 21 as Pepperdine rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to defeat St. Mary’s, 76-64, in a West Coast Conference game Friday night.

Damin Lopez added 17 points and six assists for the Waves, who improved to 13-6 overall and 6-0 in the WCC. Pepperdine has won 22 consecutive conference games.

Although St. Mary’s led, 36-28, at halftime, Pepperdine had a 17-8 run to pull within one, 47-46. Lopez was then fouled by the Kevin Weatherby, who complained about the call and was whistled for a technical. Lopez made both foul shots to give Pepperdine a 48-47 lead with 13:33 to play.

Geoff Lear and Steve Guild scored consecutive baskets as the Waves stretched the advantage to 52-47. Pepperdine led by as many as 15 down the stretch.

The Gaels were led by Eric Bamberger with 18 points and John H. Levitt with 17, including five three-pointers.

St. Mary’s (11-10, 2-4) has lost four games in a row.

There were 44 fouls, 29 by St. Mary’s and 15 by Pepperdine.

“Our defensive intensity in the second half was the difference,” Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said. “In the first half, St. Mary’s was the aggressor, but we took the initiative after the halftime break. Doug took over the game at the offensive end of the floor, and Guild held Levitt in check.”

Pepperdine holds a 1 1/2-game lead over second-place Santa Clara (8-10, 4-1). The Waves play at San Francisco tonight at 7:30.