Waves Make Sure Bubble Doesn’t Burst

Winning a conference tournament semifinal normally isn’t cause for jubilation, but Pepperdine figures it has done the math.

The Waves’ 58-55 victory over Santa Clara Sunday night probably clinched an NCAA tournament berth in Coach Jan van Breda Kolff’s first season.

Pepperdine (24-7) will play Gonzaga (23-8) in the West Coast Conference tournament final tonight at 9 (ESPN). The winner gains an automatic NCAA bid.

But because the Waves won the regular-season conference title, have an estimated power ranking of No. 45 and 16 wins in their last 18 games, a loss isn’t expected to keep them from making the tournament for the first time since 1994.

Especially after a rough-and-tumble victory over an emotionally charged opponent playing what turned out to be its last game under an architectural oddity.

The 25-year-old, air-supported fiberglass covering on Toso Pavilion, known as the “bubble” at Santa Clara, will be replaced this summer by a flat-top roof as part of a $10-million renovation.

The constant roar of giant electric fans holding up the roof was drowned out by the roar of the sellout crowd of 4,873 mostly Santa Clara fans. But when Broncos guard Brian Vaka missed a frantic three-point shot from the top of the key with Tommie Prince in his face, the electric fans could be heard again.

“We didn’t do many things well, but we won and that’s the sign of a good team,” Van Breda Kolff said. “We came up with big plays at the end of the game.”

In a see-saw battle, a free throw by Jamie Holmes gave Santa Clara (19-12) its last lead, 55-54, with 1:23 to play.

Prince made two free throws after getting fouled on an offensive rebound with 43 seconds to go, and after center Nick Sheppard took a charge in the key on a drive by Darrell Teat to give the Waves possession, Tezale Archie made two free throws with 20 seconds left.

Teat missed two shots on Santa Clara’s next possession, and although Archie missed two free throws with six seconds to play, Vaka couldn’t connect, leaving the Broncos four of 23 from three-point range.

Both teams shot poorly, and hustle and muscle made the difference. Sheppard had 10 rebounds and Kelvin Gibbs had nine as the Waves chased loose balls and outwrestled burly Broncos David Emslie and Holmes for rebounds.

There was no knockout blow, just steady work on defense that kept Santa Clara guards Brian Jones and Nathan Fast in check. The two All-WCC selections average a combined 28 points, but Jones scored nine and Fast had five. They made only five of 21 shots.

“We used a box-and-one with Prince guarding Jones much of the time,” Archie said. “But we kept changing up our defenses.”

Pepperdine needed strong defense while shooting only 31.5%. Brandon Armstrong scored 15, but made only six of 17 shots. Archie had nine points on three-of-10 shooting.

The Waves had to dig out of an early 20-12 hole caused by poor shot selection. They did so with rabid defense, and Santa Clara missed 11 consecutive shots while Pepperdine scored 11 points in row to take a 23-20 lead.

Santa Clara’s guards had a rough time. Jones was one of five shooting and Fast missed all four of his shots in the half.

Gonzaga 80, San Diego 70--The No. 2-seeded Bulldogs led nearly the entire game behind 56.9% shooting to advance to the final. Gonzaga was playing without guard Mike Nilson, the WCC defender of the year who ruptured an Achilles’ tendon Saturday.

Forward Casey Calvary scored 22 points, guard Matt Santangelo had 18 and junior forward Mark Spink had the first double-double of his career with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

No. 3-seeded San Diego (20-9) had won six in a row, including regular-season victories over Gonzaga and Pepperdine. Reserve Sam Adamo scored 11 for the Toreros, who had nine players score at least four points.