Waves Extend Road Streak, 76-64 : College basketball: Pepperdine beats San Diego for its 24th consecutive league road victory.

SAN DIEGO — There is something about being away from home that brings out the best in the Pepperdine basketball team.

The Waves made 66.7% of their shots during the second half and scored a 76-64 West Coast Conference victory over the University of San Diego before 2,500 at the USD Sports Center on Saturday night.

It was Pepperdine’s 24th consecutive conference victory away from home over the past three seasons, including 18 during the regular season.

More importantly, the game kept the Waves (16-4, 7-1) one game ahead of second-place San Francisco in the conference standings. San Diego is 9-10 and 4-4.

Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said the Waves’ success on the road impresses him more than their 38-game conference winning streak that was ended by San Francisco last week.

“In this day and age, to win this many games on the road is far more significant,” he said. “I think it says something about the type of players in our program.”

Asbury gives part of the credit to former Pepperdine star Doug Christie, who finished his career with the Waves last season.

“It started with Doug,” Asbury said. “He left a mark on these guys and the residue is still left.”

The Waves held a 36-34 halftime lead but not before the lead changed hands 11 times.

Trailing 5-4, Pepperdine went on a 13-4 run to take a 17-9 lead with 13:27 remaining in the half.

San Diego battled back to regain the lead three times after that before Pepperdine went ahead, 33-32, on two free throws by guard Steve Guild with 1:30 remaining in the half.

The Toreros took their only lead of the second half at 39-38 on a three-point basket by guard Doug Harris with 18:59 remaining.

But Pepperdine went ahead to stay on a jumper by center Derek Noether on its next possession. The Waves led by as many as 18 points late in the game.

One of the biggest factors in Pepperdine’s improvement in the second half was reserve forward LeRoi O’Brien, who scored 12 of his career-high 14 points during the period.

“It was the game of his career,” Asbury said.

Dana Jones led the Waves with 21 points, making nine of 12 shots.