PEPPERDINE CLOSER LOOK: NO BIG PLAYS FOR WAVES.Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer SACRAMENTO - They had that middle part down, it was the beginning and ending that cost Pepperdine. Particularly the ending. After having played so well for the past 2 1/2 months, the Waves stumbled Thursday at the wrong time, against the wrong team, in losing their shooting touch and NCAA Tournament NCAA Tournament can mean: Men's Sports
``Their players made big plays at the end,'' said Pepperdine guard Devin Montgomery. Alas, the Waves did not. Wake Forest looked like the cool, senior-dominated team they are down the stretch. The Waves pulled to within 72-70 with 3 minutes, 25 seconds to play, but the Demon Deacons The Demon Deacon is the mascot of Wake Forest University, a school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Probably best known for its slightly unorthodox name and appearance, the Demon Deacon has become a mainstay in the world of U.S. college mascots. converted on each of their last seven possessions. They got good looks and made them. The Waves got good looks and missed. ``To me the game was as simple as that,'' said Pepperdine coach Paul Westphal Not to be confused with Paul Westhead. Paul Westphal (born November 30 1950 in Torrance, California) is a retired American basketball player and coach in the NBA. A native of California, Westphal has had a storied career in the NBA, both as a player and as a head coach. . The Waves have been a strong shooting team all season, but with the game on the line, little would fall. Pepperdine had opened the game by missing its first eight shots, turning the ball over three times and falling behind 15-2. ``NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association first-game jitters jitters 'Butterflies' Psychology An episode of nervousness or anxiety that often precedes a public event; jitters is a type of performance anxiety which may affect actors in a stage production–stage fright or soloist musicians; it may respond to anxiolytics ,'' Montgomery said. ``We stepped out a little tentative, but after that we got into our groove,'' said Pepperdine forward Boomer Brazzle. Pepperdine recovered to trail by only three at the half (38-35) and led 54-52 with 12:32 to play. But down the stretch, their shooting touch again left them. The Waves hit only one of their final eight shots. They missed from outside, missed from medium range, missed layups. Missed their shot at a first-round upset. ``We kept hearing how we were the 'upset special' of the tournament,'' said Demons Demons See also devil; evil; ghosts; hell; spirits and spiritualism. ademonist one who denies the existence of the devil or demons. bogyism, bogeyism recognition of the existence of demons and goblins. guard Broderick Hicks Hicks , Edward 1780-1849. American painter of primitive works, notably The Peaceable Kingdom, of which nearly 100 versions exist. . ``But we're a veteran team. If we haven't seen everything, we've seen close to it.'' Wake Forest (21-12) changed up its defenses, trying to keep Pepperdine (22-9) off balance. ``We felt like they were a rhythm team and we tried to take them out of their rhythm,'' Wake Forest guard Craig Dawson said. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion