DAVID NAKAGAMI
Sports Assistant
The final road trip of the regular season came to an end Monday night, but the Waves’ woes continued. Pepperdine lost by 12 points in both of their games this past week, extending their losing streak to five games. The Waves lost 82-70 to the University of San Francisco on Saturday and 97-85 to the University of San Diego on Monday.
This week’s losses dropped Pepperdine deeper into the cellar of the West Coast Conference, with a record of 2-9. Overall, the Waves are 6-21, and on a five-game losing streak.
The Waves entered War Memorial Stadium on Saturday looking to cut their string of three consecutive losses. Pepperdine got off to a quick start early but lost the lead for the majority of the first half. However, a 10-5 surge right before halftime capped by a Marvin Lea lay-up with one second remaining had the Waves holding a five-point lead going into the locker room, the score 36-31.
The Dons, led by sophomore guard Antonio Kellogg’s 16 points, rebounded in the second half of play. As a team, San Francisco shot 56.7 percent from the floor, including 50 percent from deep. The Dons’ strong play concurring with the Waves’ second half struggles spelled defeat for Pepperdine. The Waves went 11-33 from the field and 6-18 from distance, mustering only 34 points against San Fran’s 51 in the 20 minute period. The Dons ran away with the win by a final score of 82-70.
Sharpshooter Tomas Pranciliauskas had a solid showing, taking all eight of his shots from behind the three-point line, making good on five. The sophomore guard led the Waves with 15 points, in addition to pulling down four rebounds in 24 minutes of playing time. Lea added 13 points, three dishes and three boards to the losing Waves cause.
Aside from the usual rebounding deficit, Pepperdine committed 19 personal fouls to the Dons’ 10. The Waves’ foul trouble sent San Francisco to the line 27 times during the game, with the Dons capitalizing on 20 of those chances. On the other end of the floor, the Waves only went to the charity stripe 13 times, making seven.
The 13-point difference from the free throw line accounts for the 12-point margin by which the Waves lost the game.
Sophomore forward/center Willie Galick identified another area as a source of Pepperdine’s hardship.
“We have to work on shot selection,” Galick said. “We need to take better shots.”
The 500-mile road trip from San Francisco to San Diego seemed to do the trick for the sluggish Waves offense. Pepperdine shot 45.9 percent (34-74) for the game, scoring more than 80 points for the first time in 11 games.
But good defense was needed to combat the Dons’ offense. The porous Waves defense allowed the Toreros to shoot 57.1 percent from the field during the second half. Also, Pepperdine was helpless on the boards. San Diego out-rebounded the feeble visitors 54-28, including a 19-7 ratio on the offensive glass. The Toreros had two players punch in double-doubles for the night. Big man Nir Cohen and forward Gyno Pomare both crashed the boards 14 times, with Cohen tallying 25 points and Pomare totaling 16 of his own. Not to be outdone, teammate Ross DeRogatis led all scorers with 25 points, and dished out five helpers.
Senior guard Lea filled the Waves’ stat sheet, leading the team with 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Fellow backcourt teammate Gregg Barlow chipped in 13 points, four boards and four dimes.
The Waves began the game in control, holding the lead until 1:31 left before halftime. A quick charge by San Diego left the Waves in a 40-35 hole at the beginning of the second half.
Pepperdine was able to close the score to within four early in the second 20 minutes of play, but the Toreros widened their lead to 18. A late 17-11 run by the Waves slimmed the tally to 97-85, the final score.
If fans are tired of the dismal season, they are not alone.
“We’re embarrassed,” Galick said. “No one can put losing behind them. You work so hard, but everyone looks at your record.”
Galick has taken the losses hard. He says he is not satisfied with his personal performance this season, which has included several missed opportunities on open buckets.
“I have to get my head right, because I over-think it,” said Galick, a British Columbia native. “It’s more disappointing than anything.”
Failed finishes aside, the Waves are focused on the Homecoming game this Saturday night at 8 p.m. against rival LMU. With only three games left on the regular season schedule, this contest will set the tone for the last homestand of the season. A much-needed Waves triumph will not only keep Pepperdine from equaling their longest losing streak of the season at six, but it would give the orange and blue critical momentum heading into the West Coast Conference Tournament.
Or, as Galick more simply put it, a win would “get the ball rolling.”
02-15-2007