DAVID NAKAGAMI
Staff Writer
Raw energy filled Firestone Fieldhouse and buzzed with electricity. The fans rejoiced with every bucket made and lamented each miss. Saturday’s game between the host Waves and visiting conference rival Loyola Marymount University had every element of a late conference tournament playoff game. Amid the madness, a calm and poised senior guard Tashaan Forehan-Kelly played the best game of his college career.
LMU entered the game with an overall record of 8-12, 5-1 in the West Coast Conference, good for second behind undefeated Gonzaga. Pepperdine, on the other hand, hobbled into Saturday’s matchup with a 5-12 record, 2-4 in-conference.
Although the Waves began the contest with the lead off of point guard Mike Gerrity’s foul shot, the Lions regained command on their next possession and held on until halfway through the first half. At the 9:55 mark, Forehan-Kelly connected on a three-pointer, shifting momentum to the Waves’ corner and the score to 13-11. It proved to be a critical shot, as Pepperdine carried a nine-point lead into the locker room at halftime.
Forehan-Kelly scored 16 of Pepperdine’s 33 points in the first half on six of nine shooting from the field, two for three from downtown. Defensively, the Waves shut down the Lions’ attack, holding them to 30 percent field goal shooting and two points in the paint.
LMU made its push early in the second half, whittling the lead to four points with a little more than 15 minutes to play. Lions forward Matthew Knight did his best to keep LMU in the game, posting 18 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.
As time winded down, it was evident that the TFK-led Waves offensive assault was too much. LMU resorted to fouling to stop the clock, but it was too little too late as Pepperdine secured its second conference win, 70-62. Again, Forehan-Kelly’s free throw shooting consistency helped keep the Lions at bay and effectively put the game in the bag for the Waves.
“The game at LMU was a good team win,” said the always humble Forehan-Kelly. “It was a good confidence-builder for me and the team. If we play right, it doesn’t matter what the other team does.”
The spotlight always found its way back to Forehan-Kelly, who finished the game with a career-high 35 points (10-17 FG, 2-4 3PT, 13-16 FT), four boards, three steals and an assist. He played all 40 minutes of the game, playing solid on both sides of the ball. His 35 points were the most for a Waves player in a single game since 2001, when Brandon Armstrong had 40 points, also against LMU.
“I was just taking shots I knew I could make. I was just trying to get the win,” Forehan-Kelly said.
With Forehan-Kelly leading the charge, the rest of the team was able to get comfortable. The Waves received much-needed strong performances from its frontcourt starters. Power forward Derick Grubb had three points, six rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore big man Russell Hicks snatched nine rebounds to go along with four points and a block.
Gerrity added 16 points and five rebounds to the winning cause.
Forehan-Kelly pinpointed good defense as a key component to the victory. Pepperdine’s team defense held the Lions to eight points in the paint while scoring 26 on the blocks against LMU.
Pepperdine looks to add to its winning ways as it goes on a three-game road trip beginning this Saturday at San Diego.
02-02-2006
