Post-Game Press Conference and Highlights

SAN FRANCISCO -- If USF was searching for a dominant 40-minute performance on both ends of the floor against a upper echelon conference opponent, the Dons found it tonight in a 71-59 win over the Pepperdine Waves.

Freshman Devin Watson scored a team-high 16 points to lead four Dons in double figures. Tim Derksen added 15, Kruize Pinkins 12 and Mark Tollefsen 11 to help USF improve to 9-11 overall and 3-5 in conference play. Derksen also pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.

Pepperdine, which owns a road win at BYU and narrowly missed upsetting third-ranked Gonzaga last week, received a game-high 23 points from Stacy Davis. Shawn Olden was the only other Wave to finish in double figures with 15 points. The loss drops Pepperdine's record to 12-7 overall and 5-3 in the WCC.

USF shot over 50 percent from the field for the first time in 13 games, clipping the nets at 52.3 percent. The Dons also cashed in on 16-of-24 free throws and made 5-of-11 three-pointers.

The Dons' defense bottled up the Waves all night, as Pepperdine shot just 37.7 percent from the floor, including 2-of-13 from three-point range. USF also forced 16 Wave turnovers. The Waves managed to outrebound the Dons, 33-28.

USF took a 31-28 lead into intermission after senior Chris Adams hit a three-pointer with :07 before the half.

Watson, who made 7-of-12 shots from the floor, scored five of the Dons' first eight points of the second half, including a three-pointer on USF's first possession. USF took its first double digit lead of the game when Pinkins completed a three-point play after he was fouled by Jeff Raines, giving the Dons a 42-32 lead. It started a 9-2 run which helped USF build its lead to 50-34 with 13 minutes left.

The Waves could get no closer than 11 points down the stretch, the last time at 64-53 with 5:29 left in the game. The Dons answered with five quick point to boost the lead back to 16 at 69-53 with four minutes left on the clock.

USF received solid minutes across the board tonight from all nine players who saw court time. Sophomore Uche Ofoegbu and Montray Clemons gave the Dons a big lift off the bench, as each player finished with three points.

The Dons will return to action Saturday night when they play host to the Loyola Marymount Lions in Memorial Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. USF will honor the 1955 and '56 NCAA Championship teams at halftime of the game.