New Wave Tune Sinks San Diego, 72-66

MALIBU — When University of San Diego basketball Coach Brad Holland called Pepperdine “the best 2-10 team around” earlier this week, he sounded like Lou Holtz pumping up a cupcake opponent.

Friday night, Holland looked like a prophet.

Pepperdine seemingly had little chance against San Diego, which had won five in a row and played competitively against two ranked teams, but the Waves opened 1997 and West Coast Conference play with a 72-66 upset before 1,373 at Firestone Fieldhouse.

New Year’s resolutions? Pepperdine (3-10) went to work on several at both ends of the court. Most importantly, the Waves held up down the stretch against San Diego’s press to finally win a close game after several forgettable finishes.

After building an 11-point lead in the second half, Pepperdine maintained at least a five-point margin in the last five minutes despite some near-fatal mistakes.

“Quite frankly I don’t care how we won, as long as we won,” Pepperdine Coach Lorenzo Romar said. “[San Diego] is a very good, very well-coached basketball team. To win this game gives our guys the confidence to win some more down the road.

“It was nerve-racking. That had to be the longest four minutes in the history of a basketball game.”

They were longer for Holland. The Toreros (8-5), who lost by seven to top-ranked Kansas and by two to No. 21 Stanford, shot 38.6% and made only four of 19 three-point shots, frustrated by Pepperdine’s staunch defense.

“My premonitions were correct,” Holland said. “After looking at tape, I thought Pepperdine’s record didn’t reflect the kind of team they are. . . . Believe it or not, we have some pretty good shooters. Obviously [Pepperdine] bothered us a lot.”

Sophomore forward Tommie Prince was the biggest thorn in San Diego’s side, finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds. His follow shot with 2:26 to play gave the Waves a 65-58 lead, and he made two free throws in the last 16 seconds.

Prince entered the game making only 18% of his three-point shots, but he turned that around with a three-of-five effort.

Tezale Archie and Bryan Hill each scored 14 points for Pepperdine.