Pepperdine Parlays Defensive Efforts Again

In a season of infrequent highs and abundant lows, the one constant for Pepperdine has been its defense.

That again was the case Wednesday night. Despite shooting only 33%, the Waves applied a stranglehold on Loyola Marymount, limiting the Lions to a season-low point total in a 59-52 West Coast Conference victory before 1,037 at Gersten Pavilion.

“I’d rather win them nasty than lose them pretty,” Pepperdine Coach Lorenzo Romar said. “I think the way we play defense, it makes them nasty. It slows the game down.”

It was Loyola’s lowest point total at home since a 51-49 loss to Gonzaga in the 1984-85 season.

Pepperdine, 4-11 overall and 2-1 in conference play, survived poor shooting, foul trouble and some nervous moments down the stretch by stopping Loyola (4-11, 1-2) at critical times. The Lions made only three baskets in the last 13:50 and missed their final four shots, all three-point attempts, after the Waves took a 55-52 lead on a basket by Tommie Prince with 55 seconds left.

Prince and Marc McDowell (15 points and nine rebounds) had two free throws apiece in the final seven seconds.

Although Loyola Marymount point guard Jim Williamson led all scorers with 17 points, he made only four of 13 shots and wasn’t a factor after hitting a three-point basket to pull the Lions within 51-50 with 2:35 left.