Pepperdine Falls Closer to 20-Loss Season

Pepperdine hasn’t lost 20 games in a season since 1966, but it’s a distinct possibility after the Waves fell to St. Mary’s, 82-68, and assured themselves last place in the West Coast Conference Friday night at Firestone Fieldhouse.

With its seventh consecutive defeat, Pepperdine dropped to 7-18 overall and 3-10 in the WCC. The Waves need to beat first-place Santa Clara tonight in a conference finale to have any chance of avoiding the Broncos again next week in the first round of the WCC tournament at Santa Clara.

“That’s probably what’s going to happen,” Pepperdine Coach Tony Fuller said of the prospect of playing Santa Clara in back-to-back games. “We have to play extremely well and not worry about all that other stuff.”

Before Friday, the Waves had not lost seven in a row since the 1977-78 season, which was the last time they finished last in the conference.

St. Mary’s (16-9, 9-4), meanwhile, snapped a 10-game losing streak at Firestone Fieldhouse dating to 1983-84. Reserve guard Chris Johnson led the Gaels with 17 points.

Monte Marcaccini led Pepperdine with a 20 points.