Jan. 12, 2001
MALIBU, Calif. - Pepperdine senior forward David Lalazarian scored a season-high total of 22 points on Friday night leading host Pepperdine to an 87-66 win over Santa Clara in the West Coast Conference (WCC) opener for both teams at Firestone Fieldhouse.
Junior forward Steve Ross led Santa Clara (8-8, 0-1) with 15 points. Senior guard Brian Jones added 10 points, seven rebounds and six steals in the contest. Pepperdine (9-5, 1-0) had five players scored in double-figures as the Waves won their third consecutive game.
Pepperdine shot 45.5 percent from the field (30-of-66), snapping a five-game streak where the Waves had failed to better the 40 percent mark from the floor. Pepperdine connected on 11 three-point field goals.
Santa Clara was limited to a 40.0 percent shooting effort, as the Broncos made just 22-of-55 field goals and made only two-of-16 three-point attempts. Both teams committed 18 turnovers, but the Waves won the rebounding battle by a 48-33 margin.
Pepperdine raced out to a 44-31 halftime lead, as Lalazarian and Lewis both made three-point baskets in the final minute of the half.
The Broncos pulled within a 49-45 count following a jump shot by Ross with 15:26 remaining.
Leading 54-47 with 13:24 left, Pepperdine put the game away with an 11-0 scoring run over the next three minutes to build a 65-47 advantage.
Santa Clara completes its two-game road trip with a WCC game at Loyola Marymount Saturday at 7 p.m.