Old Story in Defeat for Waves

Poor shooting and turnovers, frequent problems for Pepperdine this season, again proved to be the Waves’ downfall Saturday night.

Pepperdine shot 32% and committed 20 turnovers in losing to San Diego, 64-56, in a West Coast Conference game at San Diego.

It was the third loss in a row and ninth in 11 games for the Waves (6-20, 4-10 in the WCC), who reached 20 losses for the first time since the 1965-66 season, when they finished 2-24 for the worst record in school history.

Pepperdine finished in a sixth-place tie with Portland and will be seeded seventh in the WCC tournament at Loyola Marymount. The Waves will play co-champion St. Mary’s (20-7, 10-4) in the first round Saturday.

Marques Johnson scored 17 points, all in the second half, to lead Pepperdine. He made four of six three-point shots.

Brian Bruso scored 13 points to lead San Diego (16-10, 8-6) to its fifth consecutive victory and sixth in seventh games.

San Diego took a 37-27 lead two minutes into the second half. Pepperdine later went on a 13-0 run to take a 42-39 lead with 14:29 left.

The Toreros used a 10-0 run to take the lead for good, 56-46, with 3:43 to play.