Pepperdine Can’t Catch USF, 82-80

Orlando Smart scored 26 points as the University of San Francisco fought off a last-minute threat to beat Pepperdine, 82-80, in the West Coast Conference on Saturday night.

The Dons, 10-5 overall and 2-2 in the WCC, had a 12-point lead with 3:30 left, but Pepperdine fought back to come within 76-75 with less than a minute to play on a LeRoi O’Brien free throw.

Smart then sank two free throws with 42 seconds left to make the score 78-75 before the Waves’ Dana Jones made a basket to narrow the gap back to 78-77.

Smart and Wilson Stephens each made two free throws in the final seconds to put the Dons ahead by 81-77. Damin Lopez made a shot from half court at the buzzer for Pepperdine (10-6, 2-2).

Kent Bennett, Art Wallace and Stephens each scored 14 points for the Dons. Jones scored 22 points for the Waves, and Clark James added 16. Bryan Parker had 14 points and 11 assists.