Pepperdine Recaptures Winning Form in Rout

With its basketball team reeling from three consecutive West Coast Conference losses, Pepperdine was hoping a win over second-place San Francisco would revive its sagging confidence.

The Waves may have received the boost with an 84-62 rout Friday night of the Dons before 1,534 at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

The victory moved Pepperdine (13-10, 5-6) into a three-way tie for fourth in the WCC, one game behind second-place San Francisco (14-8, 6-5) and San Diego.

In what has been a trying season, Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury could savor this one. At least until his team plays San Diego tonight.

“Our energy level was as high as it’s been in a long time, if not all year,” Asbury said.

As inspired as Pepperdine played, San Francisco played perhaps its worst game since a 110-83 loss to Kentucky earlier this season.

The Dons took their last lead, 10-9, on a three-point basket by guard Gerald Walker with 16:10 remaining in the half.

After that, Pepperdine went on a 13-0 spurt and never looked back. Behind seven three-pointers, four by point guard Bryan Parker and three by guard Damin Lopez, the Waves opened up a 49-25 halftime lead.

It was so frustrating for San Francisco Coach Jim Brovelli that he decided to start five reserves in the second half.

Pepperdine was led by forward Dana Jones with 23 points and nine rebounds, Parker had 16 points and Lopez 12.