Nothing Is Free to Pepperdine From the Line

Pepperdine made only three of 17 free throws and squandering a four-point halftime lead in losing to San Jose State, 70-64, in a nonconference game before 1,094 at Firestone Fieldhouse.

When is the last time a team shot better from the three-point line (38.9%) than the free-throw line (17.6%)?

“I’ve never seen that,” Wave Coach Lorenzo Romar said. “No one tries to miss free throws. As much as it hurts, no one is going out and purposely trying to miss free throws. I can’t fault my kids.”

Pepperdine (1-3) has made only 38 of 87 free throws (43.7%) this season.

Romar was more upset with Pepperdine’s defense in the second half. San Jose (3-1) quickly overtook the Waves behind forward Olivier Saint-Jean, who finished with game highs of 27 points and 12 rebounds.