Pepperdine Wins in a Bang-Bang Finish

Frustration is rarely quantified, but this was clearly five pounds’ worth.

That’s how often Coach Jan van Breda Kolff of Pepperdine thumped his fist on the scorer’s table next to his seat at Firestone Fieldhouse, each time producing a startling bang.

The cold-shooting Waves were locked in a close, low-scoring battle with Northwestern. Wave stars Brandon Armstrong and Kelvin Gibbs were ineffective. A 13-game home winning streak was at stake.

“Nothing was going our way,” Van Breda Kolff said. “I said to myself that we’ve got to gut it out and find a way to win.”

Pepperdine escaped, 55-53, Saturday on two free throws by David Lalazarian with 4.6 seconds to play. Northwestern guard Collier Drayton drove the lane and had an open look at the basket with one second left, but he passed underneath to Tavaras Hardy, who fumbled the ball out of bounds as time expired.

Armstrong and Gibbs, who average a combined 34 points, missed 17 of 22 shots. Craig Lewis, the Waves’ third-leading scorer, was out for a fourth game because of an ankle injury. Somebody unexpected had to supply some offense.

More than one body, as it turned out. Alphabetically, the names were Derrick Anderson, Boomer Brazzle and Lalazarian.

After Northwestern (4-4) led for the first time since the opening minutes, Anderson made a steal that produced a layup by Brazzle and a 37-36 Wave advantage with 12:23 to play. Seconds later, Elan Buller’s steal led to a layup by Anderson.

It would take more.

The Wildcats came back to take their largest lead, 48-44, with 3:54 to play. Armstrong was on the bench with five fouls and nine points. Gibbs had four fouls. Van Breda Kolff pounded the table.

Anderson and Brazzle responded, knocking down three-pointers to tie the score, 50-50, with 2:14 to play.

“Any time Brandon goes out, guys have to step up,” Buller said. “Anderson and Boomer gave us a huge lift. It shows we aren’t a two-man team.”

Next came the play that gave Van Breda Kolff what he wanted. Gutting it out and finding a way.

Gibbs made a free throw for a 51-50 lead but missed the second shot. Brazzle tapped the rebound to Lalazarian, who missed a three-pointer. Anderson took the rebound and missed a shot. Gibbs grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 57.3 seconds left.

The three offensive rebounds shaved nearly a minute off the clock. Gibbs made both free throws.

Ed McCants connected on the Wildcats’ eighth three-pointer to tie the score, 53-53, but Pepperdine (6-3) played for the last shot and Lalazarian, who scored 13 points, was fouled.

Van Breda Kolff, who turned 49 on Saturday, unclenched his fist and shook hands with Northwestern Coach Bill Carmody. The two were assistants under Pete Carril at Princeton from 1987-91.

“It was one of those games, a lot of things hurt us,” Van Breda Kolff said. “It’s great for our confidence to see guys come off the bench and do well. We definitely needed it.”