PEPPERDINE MOVES TO SECOND WITH WIN WAVES' VICTORY FUELED BY 3-POINTERS PEPPERDINE 93, SANTA CLARA 90.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

MALIBU - Santa Clara's Doron Perkins thrust his arms into the air as he fell down near midcourt making what he thought was a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. But in a game loaded with 3-pointers, this one did not count, and free throws instead proved the difference.

The Pepperdine men's basketball team spewed back onto the court in celebration after officials ruled Perkins' shot was made after the buzzer, giving the Waves a 93-90 victory Saturday over the visiting Broncos.

Perkins made four Santa Clara's 14 3-pointers in a game that featured a combined 24 3-pointers. The 3-point total was the second-most ever for the Broncos (13-13, 5-6), who were looking to move into a third-place tie with Pepperdine in the West Coast Conference standings.

After long distance shots fueled the scoring throughout 13 lead changes, free throws ultimately sealed the victory for the Waves (12-14, 7-4).

Pepperdine freshman guard Chase Griffin made six of eight free throws in the final 38 seconds. He accounted for all of the Waves' points after Alex Acker provided an 87-85 lead with a minute remaining.

Santa Clara did not make another field goal either, and made five of nine free throw attempts during the same span.

Griffin had spent all game on the bench waiting for his moment to shine.

The player who has made only 13 field goals all season but is 26 of 32 in free throws, entered the game for the first time with 38 seconds left.

Acker finished as Pepperdine's leading scorer with 27 points. Teammate Glen McGowan added 21 points as one of four Waves scoring in double figures.

The victory combined with Saint Mary's loss at first-place Gonzaga moves Pepperdine into second place. Saint Mary's entered the night a half game ahead of the Waves. A Pepperdine loss would have given Santa Clara and and the Waves identical WCC records with just three games remaining before the conference tournament.

The Broncos defeated Pepperdine 75-68 last month and appeared headed for another win by dominating the early portion of the game.

However, the Waves capitalized on turnovers, scoring 12 points off turnovers in the first half, and used 3-pointerS to quickly cut its deficit.

Seven 3-pointers during the first half helped Pepperdine turn an initial 13-2 deficit into a 45-40 halftime lead.

The Waves got into a long-distance shootout with the Broncos late in the half as the team's combined for eight consecutive 3-pointers, five of them by Pepperdine.

Terrance Johnson's 3-pointer with just less than 2 minutes left in the half provided the Waves' biggest lead of the night at 42-32.

Perkins led Santa Clara with 27 points.

J.R. Patrick added 19 points and Travis Niesen and Kyle Bailey had 13 points each in the Broncos' highest scoring game of the year.

The victory was the third in a row for Pepperdine, which again played without starting freshman point guard Shaun Davis. Davis was suspended indefinitely after the Feb. 5 loss at Gonzaga because of his attitude.

The Waves finish the regular season with three games on the road, where they are 4-10 this season.

Heather Gripp, [phone]

heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com