Finish Leaves Pepperdine Cold : College basketball: Santa Clara’s three-pointers make the difference in West Coast Conference opener, 54-51.

This wasn’t the finish Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury had in mind for his basketball team in its West Coast Conference opener against Santa Clara.

The Waves led most of the way but went cold in the closing minutes as Santa Clara came back for a 54-51 victory Friday night before 3,043 at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

Pepperdine (8-5) appeared in control with 2:12 to play when point guard Bryan Parker sank a three-point basket, was also fouled on the play and made the free throw for a 49-44 lead.

But the Waves managed only two free throws in the final two minutes while Santa Clara (8-5, 1-0) made three three-point baskets to pull out the victory.

Forward DeWayne Lewis made two of the three-pointers and point guard John Woolery added the other. It was the final three-pointer by Lewis with 17 seconds remaining that put the Broncos ahead to stay at 53-51.

After a Santa Clara free throw made it 54-51, Pepperdine had an opportunity to tie, but forward Dana Jones missed a three-point attempt as time expired.

“Well, that’s a familiar pattern for us,” Asbury said. “We had the game completely under control and just stopped playing. It’s been at different times, but we just plain stopped.”

It was not the most artistic game for either team. Pepperdine had 19 turnovers, Santa Clara 16. Pepperdine shot 39.6% (19 of 48), Santa Clara only 33.3% (18 of 54).

“I’ll tell you quite candidly, neither team is going to be proud of their shooting percentage,” Santa Clara Coach Dick Davey said. “But we have gotten used to a certain style of play against them and we just worked very hard for this.”

Asbury took responsibility for his team’s play.

“I’ll take the blame,” he said. “We just self-destructed, and in a league game you just can’t do that.”

Santa Clara was led by Lewis with 21 points, including 14 in the second half. Woolery added 14, 12 in the second half.

The Waves were led by Jones with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Pepperdine was outrebounded, 40-37.

It had all the appearance of an opening conference game, particularly in the first half. Santa Clara shot only 32.1%, Pepperdine 33.3%, and the teams made 10 turnovers each. The Waves led, 21-19, at the half.