Feb. 8, 2002

Box Score

Jimmy Miggins scored 17 points and Devin Montgomery added 14 to pace Pepperdine to a 79-72 victory over USF Friday night in Malibu.

USF gave the Waves (16-6, 9-0 WCC) their toughest home battle in WCC play, but fell to a late Pepperdine run that took the hosts from a 56-all tie to a 68-60 lead. USF fought back to within four points but could not get any closer than that.

Darrell Tucker paced USF with his 14th double double of the year, 20 points and 12 rebounds. Hondre Brewer added 10 points and 12 rebounds. It was just USF's fourth defeat in the past 13 contests, as they dropped to 11-11, 6-3 in WCC play.

The Dons made 19 turnovers and shot just 38% for the floor for the game.

"Pepperdine's a good team and difficult to beat at home," said Dons head coach Phil Mathews. "They have been finding ways to win the close games, that's why they are 90 and have beaten teams like Gonzaga, UCLA and USC."

USF gave the Waves all they could handle in the first half, taking a 6-0 lead and led 14-10 before the Pepperdine made a 9-0 run to take a five point lead. The hosts extended the lead to nine before USF roared back to take a 35-33 lead on the way to a 37-all tie at the break. USF outrebounded the Waves 27-18 before intermission, but made 11 first-half turnovers. Darrell Tucker came out strong for USF with 15 points and 8 rebounds in the first 20 minutes.

Pepperdine entered the game with a ten-game winning streak and having won 50 of their last 58 home games.

The Dons play at Loyola Marymount Saturday.