The Dons Run Past Pepperdine in Malibu
By Josh Horton
Jan 18, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Dons head coach Rex Walters calls a play during the first half of the game against the San Diego Toreros at War Memorial Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
The University of San Francisco men’s basketball team has had a season filled with many peaks and valleys, but thankfully for the Dons they are peaking at the most opportune time.
San Francisco defeated Pepperdine by a score of 77-53 to move the Dons into a tie for second place with BYU.
The Dons were led by Cole Dickerson, who recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Big man Mark Tollefsen uncharacteristically led the Dons in assists with six. Avry Holmes and Kruize Pinkins were the other Dons to get in double-figures with 17 and 12 points respectively.
For the Waves, Stacy Davis was their anchor with 15 points and 7 rebounds. He once again came off the bench for head coach Marty Wilson. Malcolm Brooks led Pepperdine in assists with four, and chipped in 11 points as well.
Keys to the Game Checklist
Pepperdine
(X) Guard Production
The Pepperdine guards continue to struggle. Brooks, Amadi Udenyi and Jeremy Major combined to go 5-19 from the field and 2-9 from 3-point range. The Waves primary ball handler – Major – only accumulated two assists tonight, which is far off from what he usually posts.
San Francisco
(Check) Attack, Attack, Attack:
The Dons faltered in the second portion of the first half, but other than that they had their foot on the gas pedal the whole time. If Pepperdine’s 23-5 run at the end of the second half is not considered, San Francisco outscored Pepperdine 72-30 tonight.
Moving Forward
The Dons seeding situation is very fluid at this point, with USF potentially holding the two, three, or four seed come WCC tournament time. A win against LMU and a BYU loss against San Diego would put the Dons in second place. However, a USF loss at LMU and a Saint Mary’s win versus Gonzaga would drop the Dons to fourth place. Any other scenario puts San Francisco at third.
Pepperdine could fall to sixth place in the conference standings if it loses Saturday versus Santa Clara and Portland defeats Pacific. Otherwise, the Waves will be the five seed in the WCC tournament.