Pepperdine-Santa Clara Box Score 
MALIBU, Calif. - Sophomore guard Lorne Jackson scored 15 points and made a key defensive play in the final seconds to help the Pepperdine men's basketball team edge Santa Clara, 61-60, in West Coast Conference play at Firestone Fieldhouse on Thursday.
The Broncos had two opportunities in the final seconds to win the game. Marc Trasolini missed a shot in the paint with less than 10 seconds to go, but the Waves missed two free throws with 5.7 seconds left. Santa Clara's Robert Smith raced up the floor but as he neared the basket, Jackson knocked the ball out of his hands and time expired.
The Waves improved to 6-12 overall and are now 2-0 in the WCC for the first time since 2005. They have beaten the Broncos (8-12, 0-3) five straight times in Firestone Fieldhouse and in 13 of the last 14 meetings.
"It was a good win," Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said. "It was a typical Pepperdine-Santa Clara game. Conference games are hard to win and these games are all wars. These first three games are crucial for us. I'm proud of the guys."
Jackson (Simi Valley, Calif./Simi Valley HS) tied his career high with four three-pointers for the second straight game. He also added a game-high five assists and pulled down four rebounds.
"We started off slow tonight and so did I," Jackson said. "After my first two turnovers, I knew I needed to step it up. This game was a big win for us. We haven't started 2-0 in a while."
Regarding the final play of the game, Jackson said: "I saw him driving and I just went over and swiped at the ball. I hit it cleanly. Luckily there was no call."
Junior forward Mychel Thompson (Portland, Ore./Stoneridge Prep) and sophomore guard Keion Bell (Los Angeles, Calif./Pasadena HS) each scored 13 points.
Despite being outshot (46.7%-41.5%), outrebounded (37-27) and making just nine of 19 free throws (47.4%), the Waves were able to pull this one out. They made eight three-pointers and forced 16 turnovers to help put things in their favor.
The Waves got off to a slow start and Santa Clara was able to take a 17-9 lead after 12 minutes of play. Pepperdine responded with a 15-3 run, however, with Thompson scoring eight points. Jackson's three-pointer gave the Waves their first lead at 21-20 with 4:06 to play, and Thompson hit his second three-pointer to make it 24-20 with 3:14 to go. Pepperdine went into the break with a 30-27 advantage.
Santa Clara took a couple of one and two-point leads in the second half, but Pepperdine went ahead to stay at 45-44 on a three-pointer by Jackson with 9 1/2 minutes left. The Waves led by as many as eight, first at 55-47 after two free throws by sophomore center Corbin Moore (Cypress, Calif./Los Alamitos HS) and again at 57-49 with 4:12 to go after a basket by Bell.
The Broncos trimmed the lead to one with a minute and a half left, but Jackson made two free throws with 1:24 left. A basket by Santa Clara's Trasolini with 1:06 made it a one-point game again, but that was the final scoring of the contest.
Pepperdine continues WCC play at home on Saturday (Jan. 16) against San Francisco at 7 p.m. The Waves are looking to go 3-0 in the conference for the first time since 2002. Fans can watch the webcast and listen to Al Epstein's broadcast at www.pepperdinesports.com with a subscription to Wave Casts.
