WCC teams are used to playing a game on a Saturday then a game the next Thursday, just not against the same team. That's what happened tonight in the second round of the WCC Tournament when San Diego faced off with Pepperdine. These two teams should be familiar with each other because they've had a week to scout plus a game to look back on for even more advanced scouting.
That was the case in the early going. For the first nine minutes the two teams traded baskets and leads. Then the Waves figured out what they weren't able to figure out in either of their two previous meetings with the Toreros this season. Pepperdine put an end to the back and forth, pushed the lead to ten and kept a comfortable lead during the middle minutes of the first half.
During this stretch of the game San Diego was sloppy. Cameron Miles chased a loose ball all the way down the floor to the baseline and saved it inbounds to John Sinis. Sinis promptly traveled for no reason, he wasn't being pressured or driving with the ball, just moved his pivot foot. After a great hustle play the ball was given back to the Waves who were up ten.
It was during this stretch that San Diego sharpshooter Johnny Dee was missing three after three after three. Something happened in the waining minutes of the half. Christopher Anderson stole the ball and Dee layed it in at the other end. Then Anderson made a pass to Dee who promptly drained a three. That sequence of events was repeated three times in rapid succession and the Toreros retook the lead before the break. A ten point Pepperdine lead was erased by a 21-3 San Diego run that spanned halftime.
Much like the Waves of the first half the Toreros of the second half pushed the lead to a comfortable margin. Unlike the Waves, they never gave up the lead. Pepperdine would move to within one on a couple of occasions but could never tie things up. Stacy Davis, the WCC's Newcomer of the Year had a stellar night doing everything he could to bring the Waves back into the game. His stat line was fairly ridiculous for a freshman in his first WCC Tournament game. 19 points, 11 rebounds, 9-11 from the line, 2 assists, 2 turnovers and only one foul (the Waves committed 18 fouls overall).
The Waves made it a one possession in the last minute. Lorne Jackson was fouled shooting a three, which rolled in and out of the basket. The Toreros were up four at the time of the foul with only seconds remaining which begs the question, why were they even playing defense on the shooter? They were though, which sent Jackson to the line to shoot three. He made the first and the second before coach Marty Wilson called timeout to discuss an intentional miss of the final free throw. Jackson missed the third, off the right side of the rim just as planned. Unfortunately, the Waves jumped too soon and were called for a lane violation. The Toreros got the ball on the violation, were fouled immediately and made the second of two free throws. A desperation three at the buzzer fell way short and the Toreros hung on for the win.
In the end it was the amazing relationship of Christopher Anderson and Johnny Dee, two sophomores, that pushed the Toreros past the Waves.
San Diego moves on to face #3 BYU on Friday at 8:30 PM PST. This will be the second straight year the Toreros and Cougars meet in the nightcap game of the WCC Quarterfinals.
