Pepperdine Defeats USF to Win Conference Title

SAN FRANCISCO —  Senior guard Dwayne Polee scored 24 points for the Pepperdine Waves, who clinched their fourth West Coast Athletic Conference title in five years Saturday night with a 85-64 victory over the San Francisco Dons.

The Waves, who had five players scoring in double figures, won their eighth straight game to run their record to 24-4 overall and 12-1 in the conference. They have one game remaining, against second-place Loyola Marymount Wednesday night.

Loyola Marymount is now 10-3 in the WCAC have losing to Santa Clara, 71-61, Saturday night.

Pepperdine, starting the same lineup for the 57th straight game, broke open a close game with a 13-1 surge late in the first half. The outburst powered by Polee’s five points expanded a two-point lead into a 14-point cushion, 40-26, with one minute remaining in the half.

Polee had 14 points and sixth-man Grant Gondrezick added 12 as the Waves took a 42-32 halftime lead. The Dons (7-20, 2-11) closed to within 60-54 with eight minutes to go, but a 12-0 Pepperdine spree made it a runaway.

Gondrezick finished with 15 points, forward Eric White added 12, guard Jon Korfas had 11 and 7 assists and sophomore center Levy Middlebrooks had 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Waves. Polee, besides his 24 points, had five rebounds and five assists.

Polee said: “We executed our offense pretty well tonight, and I was able to free myself for some good perimeter shots. When I am hitting from the outside along with Korfas and Gondrezick, it opens up the middle for our front-line players to work underneath.”

Freshman guard Robbie Grigsby led USF with 22 points.

Pepperdine shot 59.6% from field, hitting 34 of 57 shots, while USF made 25 of 62 for 40.3%.

Pepperdine Coach Jim Harrick said: “Polee got us off and running and he played one of his better games of the season. Dwayne has played with amazing consistency the last two months. Tonight was just another example.

“I was very pleased with our defensive effort and our fast break. It’s good to see us execute our transition game. “

Harrick, on winning conference title, said: “There are many good coaches and excellent programs that have never won a conference championship, so I am very proud of this team’s effort. It is great to win the prize and take your team in the NCAA tournament.

“I think we have improved significantly from a year ago. We are wiser, bigger and stronger. And I think we have what it takes to win a few games. I will really concentrate on improving our defense the next few weeks.”

About next Wednesday’s game against Loyola at Pepperdine’s Firestone Fieldhouse, where the Waves have won 25 straight, Harrick said: “Our guys were hoping that the game would have more significance. But it will still be important for us to go out and play to our abilities. It will be an exciting night with a great atmosphere and a packed house. The theme for the next few days will be, ‘Let’s go out and win No. 25.”