Game #20
San Francisco Dons (8-11, 2-5 WCC) vs. Pepperdine Waves (12-6, 5-2 WCC)
Thursday,  Jan. 22, 2015 • 7:00 p.m.
Memorial Gymnasium • San Francisco, Calif.
Series Record: USF 72-50
Last Meeting: USF 77-53 (Feb. 27, 2014)
Audio/Video Streaming: TheW.tv (Pat Olson, Play-by-Play; Jim Brovelli, Analyst)
Television: None

Complete USF Game Notes (PDF) | Complete Pepperdine Game Notes (PDF)

The Dandy Dons

• Now stand 8-11 overall and 2-5 in the WCC following Saturday's 70-64 loss at Santa Clara...enter the week tied with Portland and Pacific for seventh place in the WCC.
• Were 11-8 at the 19-game mark last season...then put together a three-game winning streak to improve to 14-8...ultimately finished at 21-12 and 13-5 WCC (t-2nd).
• Are 1-5 over the last six games and 5-11 since starting the season 3-0.
• Swept the season series with Pepperdine last year, winning 76-66 on the Hilltop and 77-53 in Malibu...have won five straight and seven out of the last eight meetings with the Waves.
• Have been outrebounded in five of its first seven conference games after outboarding 10 of its first 12 opponents...were +9.7 on the boards vs. non-conference foes and are -3.6 vs. the first seven conference opponents...rank fifth in the WCC in rebound average (36.4) and margin (+3.9)...however, are being outboarded 33.7 to 30.1 in seven conference games.
• Three players - Matt Glover, (5.5), Kruize Pinkins (5.6) and Mark Tollefsen (5.5) - are averaging at least 5.0 rebounds per game while Tim Derksen is averagaing 4.6.
• Shooting 45.9 percent from the floor, fourth-best in the WCC...have shot 50 percent or better in four games this season, including a season-high 64.9 effort vs. Montana.
• WCC foes shooting 50.1 percent from the floor after seven conference games and outscoring the Dons 75.9 to 66.7 (+9.2).
• Made just 4-of-22 three-point tries at Santa Clara...rank fourth in the WCC in three-point percentage at 37.2 percent...junior Tim Derksen ranks fourth in the WCC in 3-point field goal percentage at .450 (27-for-60).
• Have allowed eight opponents to make at least nine three-pointers in a game, including Santa Clara, which made 10-of-21 of its threes...have given up 43 three-pointers over the last four games, including a season high 15 to BYU.
• After making 28-of-32 free throws at Portland, made just 14-of-24 charity tries ina six-point loss at Santa Clara...shooting 60.1 percent from the line, which ranks 10th in the WCC.
• Senior Kruize Pinkins scored a game high 16 points at Santa Clara and leads the team in scoring with a 15.5 ppg mark...Pinkins has scored 20+ points in five games this season.
• Junior Mark Tollefsen recorded his second double-double of the season at Santa Clara with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
• Freshman Devin Watson has started each of the last four games at the point and is averaging 12.2 ppg in those starts.

Notables

Opening Tip
USF (8-11, 2-5 WCC) returns home to Memorial Gymnasium on Thursday night to meet the Pepperdine Waves (12-6, 5-2 WCC) in a 7:00 p.m. start. The Dons are coming off a 70-64 loss at Santa Clara on Saturday while the Waves downed Portland 67-63 after narrowly missing upsetting third-ranked Gonzaga (76-78) two nights earlier.

Series History with Pepperdine
In a series that dates back to the 1955-56 season, USF leads the all-time series with Pepperdine, 72-50. The Dons have won five straight and seven out of the last eight games in the series. The Dons swept last year's season series, winning 76-66 in San Francisco on Jan. 4 and 77-53 in Malibu on Feb. 27. The two schools have met seven times in the WCC Championship tournament, with the Pepperdine holding a 6-1 advantage..

Last Year's Games vs. Pepperdine
A strong second-half showing lifted USF to a 76-66 win over Pepperdine on Jan. 4 in Memorial Gymnasium. Four Dons scored in double-figures, led by Kruize Pinkins' 19 points and 11 rebounds. After trailing 27-19 at intermission, USF shot 51.3 percent from the floor and scored 57 second half points to post its second consecutive victory. Mark Tollefsen added 16 points while Tim Derksen finished with 14.

In the return game on Feb. 27 in Malibu, USF turned in a dominating second half performance to defeat Pepperdine, 77-53 at Firestone Fieldhouse. After trailing 32-30 at halftime, the Dons outscored the Waves, 47-21 after intermission en route to a 24-point victory. Cole Dickerson recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Avry Holmes finished with 17, including 14 in the second half. The Dons shot 50.9 percent from the field and outrebounded the Waves, 40-29. The 24-point win was the team's third-widest margin of of victory on the season, trailing wins over Notre Dame de Namur (95-57) and Nicholls State (77-48).

Last Time Out
Santa Clara made 10-of-21 three-pointers and knocked down 24-of-30 free throws en route to a 70-64 victory over USF on Saturday at the Leavey Center. The Broncos led 39-28 at the half and by as many as 20 points at 61-41 with 8:21 remaining. USF cut the lead down to six at 65-59 with 1:38 left but could get no closer. Kruize Pinkins led all USF scorers with 16 points while Mark Tollefsen recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Devin Watson chipped in with 13. Santa Clara's guard trio of Brandon Clark (23), Jared Brownridge (18) and Denzel Johnson (11) accounted for 52 of the Broncos 70 points.

The Record
At 8-11 overall, USF is four games off its pace from last season when the Dons were 11-8 at the 19-game mark. USF won games 20-22 to improve to 14-8 overall before ultimately finishing with a 21-12 overall mark and tied for second in the WCC with a 13-5 conference ledger.

The Wins
USF's eight wins this season have come by an average of 24.8 points (83.6 to 58.8). The Dons have posted four wins of 30 points or more against South Carolina State (91-52), Notre Dame de Namur (86-46), Houston Baptist (85-54) and Portland State (77-40) and also own double digit victories over Hawaii (88-73), Montana (76-57) and Portland (89-77).

The Home Record
USF is 5-4 on its home floor this season, however are just 3-4 over its last seven home contests. The Dons are averaging 76.2 points and shooting 49.7 percent from the floor in nine home games compared to the road, where they are averaging 62.5 points and shooting 41.6 percent from the field. Last season, the Dons were 13-6 on the Memorial Gymnasium hardwood.

Dons Defensively
USF is being outscored by and average of 9.2 ppg (75.9-66.7) in its seven conference games and now ranks seventh in the WCC in points allowed per game (68.1). After limiting 12 non-conference opponents to 38.9 percent shooting from the floor, the first seven WCC foes have clipped the nets at 50.1 percent. USF ranks fifth overall in field goal defense at 42.8 percent.

Defending the Three
USF's last four opponents have combined to make 43-of-95 (45.3) of its three-point tries. The Dons allowed a combined 27 three-pointers in back-to-back 31-point losses to BYU (15) and Gonzaga (12). After limiting Portland to six three-pointers, Santa Clara nailed 10-of-21 of its long distance attempts in a 70-64 win over the Dons Saturday. For the season, USF is allowing opponents to shot 37.6 percent from three-point range, which ranks ninth in the WCC. Eight opponents have made at least nine three-pointers against

Board Work
After outrebounding 10 of its 12 opponents by 8.3 boards a game, USF has been outrebounded in five of its first seven conference games, 33.7 to 30.1. USF ranks fifth the WCC in rebound average at 36.4 per game and fifth in rebound margin (+3.9). The Dons also rank fifth in the conference in offensive rebounds with a 11.4 per game mark. Three players - Matt Glover, (5.5), Kruize Pinkins (5.6) and Mark Tollefsen (5.5) - are averaging at least 5.0 rebounds per game while Tim Derksen is averagaing 4.6. All four players have pulled down 10 or more rebounds in a game this season.

From the Field
USF is shooting 42.9 percent from the field over its first seven conference games and rank fourth in the conference in season field goal percentage at 45.9. USF has shot 50 percent or better from the floor just four times this season, the last time against Houston Baptist on Dec. 7 (55.6). Mark Tollefsen ranks ninth in the WCC in field goal percentage at 53.4 while Kruize Pinkins ranks 11th (51.0).

From the Line
After making 28-of-32 free throws in a 89-77 victory at Portland, the Dons managed to make just 14-of-24 of it charity tries in a 70-64 loss at Santa Clara. The Dons have made just 113-of-215 (52.6) of their free throws in 11 losses which have come by a total of 137 points.

Beyond the Arc
USF made just 4-of-22 of its three-point attempts at Santa Clara and now ranks fourth in the WCC in three-point field goal percentage at .372 (132-for-355). Junior Tim Derksen (45.0 27-for-60) ranks fourth in the WCC.

D-Watz
Freshman Devin Watson has started each of the last four games at the point guard postion and is averaging 14.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in those four games.
 
Fan Guide

Ticket Information
Individual game tickets for all USF home games this season are available on line at USFDons.com or by calling (415) 422-2USF. General admission tickets are available for as low as $10.

Promotions
The first 100 fans in attendance this evening will receive a free copy of the '51 Dons, a hour-long ESPN documentary that chronicles USF's historic football team's stand against racism. Members of the team will be in attendance this evening as a banner will be unveiled at halftime honoring the team.
 
Parking Information
Parking is available free of charge two hours prior to tip-off until one hour after the conclusion of the game in any campus lot, with the exception of designated green parking spots and the top of Hayes-Healy garage on Golden Gate Avenue adjacent to the gymnasium.
 
The Hilltop Club Level
USF Athletics is pleased to announce the opening of The Hilltop, a new club level where fans 21 and older can enjoy beverages and catered food options before and during designated games during the 2014-15 season. Located in the upper mezzanine level on the south side of Memorial Gymnasium, The Hilltop will open one hour before tipoff and will remain accessible throughout the game. Beer, wine, soft drinks and catered food options will be available to all fans 21 years of age and older. Admission to the The Hilltop is priced at $25 per game. Season passes for all games with the exception of designated premium games may also be purchased for $250. Food and drink options are extra. The cost does not include a game ticket.