Waves Play Host to Santa Clara

Pepperdine, which has lost 4 of its last 5 basketball games, will open West Coast Athletic Conference play at home this week, playing host to Santa Clara at 8 tonight and to the University of San Francisco at 7:30 Thursday at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

Santa Clara (11-2) has won 6 in a row and is off to its best start since opening with 12 wins and 2 losses in the 1977-78 season. The Broncos’ only losses have been at Indiana, 64-49, and at UC Santa Barbara, 64-57.

Santa Clara senior forward Jens Gordon, who is averaging team-high marks of 16.5 points and 9.4 rebounds a game, is one of 5 Broncos scoring in double figures.

The Broncos are coming off a 53-51 win at Boise State last Saturday. Pepperdine’s last game was also against Boise State, a 63-60 overtime loss at home last Thursday.

Junior forward Dexter Howard, who is averaging 18.6 points and 8.2 rebounds, leads the Waves (8-7).