North Carolina Charlotte Holds Off Pepperdine

This could have been a pivotal moment in the early-season development of the Pepperdine basketball team.

Instead it turned into a frustrating 80-74 defeat Saturday against visiting North Carolina Charlotte in the first round of the Sparkletts Invitational at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Midway through the second half, it appeared as if the Waves (2-1) were dead and buried.

The 49ers (2-0), who have made the NCAA tournament four of the past five seasons, led by 12 points with 9:14 remaining.

That was before the Waves went on a 21-8 run, taking a 74-73 lead on a jump shot by center Nick Sheppard with 1:48 remaining.

But forward Tremaine Gardiner responded with a jump shot from the top of the key with 1:32 remaining and the 49ers didn’t trail again.

“It was very frustrating because we worked so hard to get back in it,” Pepperdine forward Kelvin Gibbs said. “We just couldn’t pull it off. I know we wanted it more than they did, but they just hit the big shots.”

It was particularly frustrating for Gibbs, who finished with 19 points and nine rebounds.

The Waves also received strong support from Sheppard and guard Craig Lewis with 14 points each. Sheppard was particularly impressive, scoring 10 of his points in the final five minutes.

But in the end the Waves didn’t have a response for Charlotte’s long-distance shooting.

Despite the absence of one of their top shooters because of an appendectomy, guard Diego Guevara, the 49ers still made 11 of 22 three-point attempts.

James Zimmerman finished with 19 points, including five three-point baskets, and Jobey Thomas had 16 points, including four three-point baskets.