Pepperdine Guard Lopez Sidelined Six Weeks Because of Broken Hand

Two days after two players were dismissed from school for violating university rules, the Pepperdine basketball team was dealt another blow Wednesday.

The Waves announced that junior guard Damin Lopez, fifth-leading scorer in the West Coast Conference at 15 points per game, will be sidelined at least six weeks because of a broken hand.

Lopez suffered the injury during practice Tuesday, breaking two bones in his left hand, and underwent surgery Wednesday.

“Injuries are part of the game and we will move forward,” Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said. “There is no question that we will miss Damin in our lineup.”

Lopez’s loss leaves the Waves with nine players and only three guards on their roster, including seldom-used sophomore guard Mark Sterbens. Pepperdine is redshirting freshman guard Trent Jackson from Santa Monica High.

“I do not want to pull him out of a redshirt (status) this late in the season,” Asbury said. “That’s just not fair to him.”

The Waves, 11-3 overall and 2-0 to lead the WCC, travel to the Bay Area for conference games against the University of San Francisco on Friday and St. Mary’s on Saturday.