Pepperdine Puts a Chill on Santa Clara

Dana Jones scored a game-high 20 points as Pepperdine outscored cold-shooting Santa Clara, 12-0, over the final three minutes for a 65-52 victory Saturday night.

Pepperdine (16-10, 8-6), winners of four in a row, will be seeded second in next weekend’s West Coast Conference tournament at Santa Clara. The Broncos (13-13, 6-8) fell into sixth place, setting up a first-round tournament matchup with San Francisco.

Santa Clara shot 23% overall, making only 13 of 57 shots.

The lead changed hands eight times in the second half before Derek Noether’s two free throws with 5:34 left put Pepperdine ahead, 50-49.

Steve Nash had given the Broncos a 49-48 lead when he hit a three-point basket with 5:45 to play. That turned out to be Santa Clara’s last field goal.

The score was tied again at 51 before Jones’ jumper started Pepperdine’s game-deciding 15-1 run.