Waves Prevent Another Collapse

No lead was safe for Pepperdine on Friday night. Then again, no letdown was insurmountable either.

The Waves frittered away several advantages, including most of an 11-point lead in the second half, but each time they recovered en route to a 75-69 upset of Santa Clara in a West Coast Conference game before 1,433 at Firestone Fieldhouse.

“We finished,” Pepperdine Coach Lorenzo Romar said. “And no time too soon.”

The unpredictable Waves (6-17, 4-7 in the WCC) ended a three-game losing streak and beat a conference co-leader for the second time in two weeks. Santa Clara (13-10, 7-4) dropped a game behind first-place Gonzaga.

“I think our guys just said, ‘Enough is enough,’ ” Romar said.

One of Pepperdine’s biggest statements was made by guard Marques Johnson, who made five of eight three-points shots and scored 21 points in his return to the starting lineup. Marc McDowell added 19 points and Tommie Prince scored 13 and did a stalwart defensive job on Bronco guard Marlon Garnett, holding the WCC’s leading scorer to 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting.

Prince made one of two free throws with 25 seconds left to end a 5-0 Santa Clara run and give the Waves a 72-69 lead. The Broncos rebounded the miss and worked the ball to Garnett, who missed a 15-footer. Bryan Hill rebounded for Pepperdine, which sealed the game by making three free throws in the last five seconds after McDowell was intentionally fouled.

It was the Waves’ first victory in a game decided by six or fewer points after seven unsuccessful attempts.

“Tonight we made our open shots and we took care of the ball,” said Romar, whose team had only 12 turnovers after committing a season-high 27 last week in a 65-53 loss at Santa Clara. “Marques Johnson really helped us. We needed him to open up the game for us and he did that with his shooting.”

Johnson’s contribution was all the more valuable because it was an off night for Hill, Pepperdine’s leading scorer and rebounder. The 6-foot-8 junior was benched after picking up three fouls in the first seven minutes and did not score in the first half. He finished with seven points and six rebounds.

“They handled adversity a lot better than we did,” said Santa Clara freshman point guard Brian Jones.

Pepperdine took its biggest lead, 55-44, early in the second half but Santa Clara rallied behind Garnett to pull within 60-59 on a layup by Jason Sedlock with 7:00 to play.

The Waves answered with Johnson, who made two three-point baskets and a free throw to account for a 7-0 run. The stretch was highlighted by a brilliant defensive play by Prince, who blocked Lloyd Price’s shot from the corner and controlled the ball for a steal.

“That was one of the best defensive plays I’ve ever seen in my life,” Romar said.

Santa Clara made three free throws on one possession to close within 71-69 with 31 seconds left before the Waves pulled away.

Pepperdine took a 43-38 halftime lead behind the play of McDowell and Prince. The forwards each scored 12 points in the half to help make up for the absence of Hill.