Waves Win on a Bank

Call them the city champions.

The Pepperdine Waves completed a sweep of the Southland’s preeminent college basketball powers Thursday night when guard Craig Lewis banked in a three-point shot from 23 feet out with 2.5 seconds remaining in the game, giving the Waves a 78-77 comeback victory over USC.

Pepperdine fans stormed the court at the close of the Fab Four doubleheader, which drew an announced crowd of 4,632 to the Forum.

“We got kind of excited with that one,” first-year Pepperdine Coach Paul Westphal said with a grin. “We will claim that we own L.A.., at least right now.”

Lewis finished with 19 points, including four three-pointers, and forward Terrance Johnson also had 19 points for Pepperdine, which defeated UCLA at Pauley Pavilion last week.

“The play was for anyone, whoever was open,” Lewis said.

But did he call the bank?

“Yeah,” Lewis said, “after it went in.”

The Waves (4-2) were down by 11 points, 73-62, with more than eight minutes to play when the Trojans went cold.

USC (4-2) made only one field goal in the final eight minutes, a Brandon Granville runner with 28 seconds to play which gave the Trojans a 77-75 lead.

“I thought we had some selfish play,” USC Coach Henry Bibby said. “We forced some shots with an 11-point lead.”

USC power forward Sam Clancy grabbed a rebound and was fouled with 11.6 seconds remaining in the game. He had a chance to ice it but the senior missed both free throws. He was seven for 13 in the game, missing his last three.

After Westphal drew up the eventual game-winning play during a break, Bibby called a pair of timeouts, annoying Westphal, who then held up his chalkboard with the play drawn on it toward the USC bench, setting up Lewis’ heroics.

“The kid hit a tough shot,” Bibby said. “If you’re going to win a game, that’s the way you’re going to do it.”

Clancy finished with his fourth double-double of the season, getting a game-high 25 points and 14 rebounds.

A victory would have been sweet redemption for Clancy, Granville and David Bluthenthal.

After being relegated to the bench to start the Rhode Island game Tuesday night and being blasted by their coach after the game, USC’s three senior starters said all the right things.

Apparently, they also did all the right things to appease Bibby in the two days of practice since the Trojans’ blowout win over the visiting Rams. Clancy, Granville and Bluthenthal were all in the starting lineup against Pepperdine.

“I’ve been hearing that they’re saving themselves for the Pac-10 [conference play],” Bibby said of his seniors after the Rhode Island game. “What are they waiting for? This is it for them.

“We can’t wait for them. We’ve got to get going now.”

Granville, who had started 93 of his previous 96 games until his Rhode Island benching, basically laughed it off, saying that in his fourth year as USC’s starting point guard, he was used to Bibby’s mind games and prodding method of inspiration, especially because Bibby was a point guard himself.

Said Granville: “Coach Bibby doesn’t hold any grudges.”

Clancy accepted his benching, at least publicly.

“Coach Bibby has been saying all year that I haven’t been playing for him,” he said. “That’s what I deserved.

“[The freshmen have] been kicking our butts in practice and that’s why they started.”

When asked if a line between being motivated and being angered by the benching was nearing, Clancy shrugged.

“We’re not there yet,” the preseason Wooden and Naismith Award candidate said.

*

A settlement was reached Thursday between a USC student and the promotional company that sponsors a halftime basketball shooting contest.

Aaron Burgin, a sophomore, said he will receive $2,500 after SCA Promotions decided to recognize his accomplishment during USC’s win over UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 26 when Burgin appeared to make a layup, a free throw, a three-pointer and a half-court shot in 25 seconds.

Burgin received a letter Tuesday, however, informing him that he would not receive the advertised $10,000 worth of tuition after a video tape revealed his foot was on the line for the three-pointer and that both feet were over the line on the half-court shot.

Norman Beck, the director of claims and security for SCA Promotions, said his company did not settle out of public pressure.

“He made a gallant effort,” Beck said. “He just did not succeed.

“I think he’s very happy. If I were him, I would be very happy. Even though he didn’t win, he’s still going to go home and have a nice Christmas.”

*

Times staff writer J.A. Adande contributed to this report.