March 6, 2009

Final Stats |  Game Action 

March 6, 2009

(Las Vegas) - Junior forward Dior Lowhorn continued his assault on the USF career and single-season record books, pouring in a career-high 32 points, but it was not enough to hold off a hot-shooting Pepperdine squad that posted a 93-85 victory in the opening round of the 2009 West Coast Conference Tournament Friday night in the Orleans Arena. The Dons (11-19) end their season, while the Waves (9-22), who improve to 6-0 against the Green and Gold in the postseason showcase, face Portland Saturday in the second quarterfinal.

Lowhorn capped his monster junior campaign with a flourish, registering his second 30-point game and made some history in the process, finishing 2008-09 with 604 points on the year, becoming only the third player in school history to record 600 points in a single season twice in his career. Lowhorn ranked fourth in single-season history with 636 points in his first season on the Hilltop. USF All-Americans Bill Cartwright and Quintin Dailey also accomplished the feat.

Freshman guard Kwame Vaughn added 18 points, and Blake Wallace had 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. USF shot .464 for the night (32-69) and held a 40-36 rebound edge, including 19-13 on the offensive glass.

Mike Hornbuckle scored 25 points, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range, to lead Pepperdine. The senior went 8 of 11 from the floor for the Waves, who shot .492 (30-61) from the field, but did the bulk of their damage from the free throw line connecting on .828 (24-29).

Both teams played at an exceptional pace and took great care of the basketball in a game featuring 16 lead changes and 11 ties, Pepperdine finally took the lead permanently on a Hornbuckle 3-pointer that made it 73-72 with 5:42 left in the game. The two teams combined for just 11 turnovers, only four by the Waves. The Dons seven miscues matched their season-low.

Pepperdine built a six-point lead in the first half and led 48-47 at halftime. Keion Bell had 19 points and seven rebounds for Pepperdine, while Mychel Thompson added 12 points and five rebounds.