Dons Fall Victim to Waves’ Hot Shooting

Saturday, March 9

Las Vegas

7:00 P.M.

University of San Francisco

21-10

Pepperdine

16-17

Team	1	2	F
PEPPERDINE	42	47	89
SAN FRANCISCO	34	38	72

Charles-Minlend-USF-Dons-Mens-Basketball-WCC-Tournament

Photo by: Kyle Terada

3/9/2019 10:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Post Game Press Conference

LAS VEGAS – With 13 minutes into the second half, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team cut a 10-point deficit to two following a three point field goal by Remu Raitanen. With the momentum in the balance, USF needed just one more stop, however it wasn't in the cards. As No. 8 Pepperdine went on a run to put the game away, on the strength of Colbey Ross's game-high 26 points. The Waves, bolstered by a blistering night from 3-point range, went on to win 89-72 in the quarter finals of the West Coast Conference Tournament.

USF (21-10) had two players in double figures and was led by Charles Minlend's team-high 17 points. Frankie Ferrari joined him with 12. Seven other players finished with at least two points. USF finished the night 42.9 percent from the field going 27-for-63, from beyond the arc the Dons could not find their shooters touch. USF was 1-for-6 from beyond the arc in the first half and finished 6-for-23.

Pepperdine (16-17) shot 42.9 percent from the floor, but was even better from long range. The Waves finished the game 14-for-28 from beyond the arc with six different players making at least one 3-point field goal.

Both teams opened the game absolutely on fire. At the first media timeout the score was 14-13 in favor of the Waves thanks to opening the contest 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. The Dons responded in kind shooting 6-for-7 to start the contest.

After the hot start by the Waves, the Dons went to a bigger lineup and played a zone defense. The change worked and the Waves connected on just 1-of-8 over the next several possessions. With 10:16 in the first, Minlend got the hoop and the harm to put the Dons back out front midway through the half. He opened the contest with 14 points in the first 10 minutes.

The hot shooting in the first continued for the Waves who opened the game 8-for-12 from 3-point range. The big culprit Eric Cooper Jr. who was 3-for-5 from long range in the first 20 minutes. With under five minutes to play, Pepperdine led by 11, their largest lead of the half.

The two sides cooled off down the stretch, but the Waves' 9-for-16 mark from beyond the arc was the difference in the half, they went into the locker room up 42-34. The Dons outshot the Waves in the first half connecting on 13-of-28 attempts from the field, but they were just 1-for-6 from beyond the arc. The Dons also had eight turnovers that led to seven quick points for Pepperdine.

Early in the second half the Dons defense took over and held the Waves scoreless for over three minutes. During that time, USF cut the deficit to two. Remu Raitanen provided a big spark during that stretch getting a block that led to an easy transition layup and then a triple at the top of the key.

The Dons could not hang on to that momentum for long however. Turnovers allowed the Waves to get the lead back to 10 with 11:24 to play. Ross helped push that lead to 17 with under seven minutes to play. Ross and the free throw line helped Pepperdine put the game away.

UP NEXT
The Dons will have to play the waiting game to find out their post season destiny. Selection Sunday for the NCAA and NIT tournament is Sunday the 17^th.