USC
Pepperdine
Pepperdine Beats USC On Last-Second 3-pointer
December 07, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Dec 7, 2001
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By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) - Pepperdine gave first-year coach Paul Westphal a double-dose of nostalgia Thursday night with a surprising 78-77 victory over Southern California at the Forum.
Craig Lewis banked in a 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining as the Waves completed an upset of major Los Angeles schools.
"The kid hit a tough shot," USC coach Henry Bibby said. "If you're going to win, that's the way to win."
The Waves (4-2) stunned then-No. 10 UCLA 85-78 last week, and when Lewis' shot went in, Pepperdine's fans stormed the court as if the Waves had won the national championship.
"We will claim we own L.A., at least for now," said Westphal, who was a standout guard at USC from 1970-72.
Fans screamed, danced and mobbed the players for several minutes.
The locale and outcome brought back memories for Westphal, who played 12 years in the NBA and later coached the Phoenix Suns and Seattle SuperSonics.
"I was telling some of the guys before the game one of my greatest moments in the Forum was when I was with Phoenix and we beat the Lakers. Everybody started to leave early. Jack Nicholson got up and walked behind our bench and said, `Nice game, boys,' " Westphal recalled.
"There's been a lot of great basketball in this building and I'm happy to be part of another unforgettably exciting game."
The Waves trailed by 12 points in the second half and were down by six with 2:40 remaining.
But Terrance Johnson hit a 3-pointer, Devin Montgomery raced in for an uncontested layup and then Montgomery scored on a goaltending call against Sam Clancy to tie the game at 75 with 42 seconds remaining.
Brandon Granville answered with a runner to put USC ahead 77-75, Cedric Suitt missed for Pepperdine and Clancy got fouled with 11 seconds left. But he missed both free throws.
After a timeout by Pepperdine and two by USC, the Waves inbounded the ball at midcourt and Lewis launched the winning 25-footer with two defenders in his face.
"You put all your shooters out there and attack," Westphal said. "That's a play that can always get you a shot."
Johnson and Lewis led the Waves with 19 points each, and Jimmy Miggins added 15.
"I saw the crowd run onto the floor. It was a good feeling," Lewis said.
Clancy scored 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the Trojans (4-2). Granville and Desmon Farmer each added 13 points, and freshman Errick Craven had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The game matched Bibby, who starred at UCLA from 1970-72, against Westphal.
During Bibby's years in Westwood, the Bruins went 87-3, with one of their losses coming against Westphal and the rival Trojans.
The Waves created a stir by beating UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, and their run-and-gun style held up well against USC in the first half, when Pepperdine shot 59 percent and trailed 45-42 at the break.
Craven's basket gave the Trojans their first double-digit lead of the game at 61-51 with 14 minutes remaining. He and Clancy combined to score 18 points in a 22-12 run that put USC up 69-58 with 9:58 left.
The Waves got to 73-69 on a 3-pointer by Lewis with 4:08 remaining. After Farmer made one of two free throws for USC, Montgomery missed and Craven tore the rebound out of Johnson's hands.
Granville got fouled and made one of two for a 75-69 lead with 2:40 left.
"We had some selfish play. We forced some shots," Bibby said. "You make mental mistakes and it costs you the game."
Clancy broke out for a season high point total three days after he and fellow senior starters Granville and David Bluthenthal were benched by Bibby for the first 10 minutes against Rhode Island.
Bibby has been on the seniors since practice began in October for what he believes are their lackadaisical work habits.
The game was part of the inaugural Fab Four doubleheader at the Forum, the former home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings, which is now owned by a church. Gonzaga upset No. 21 Fresno State 87-77 in the opening game.
The games were originally scheduled at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, but concerns about college basketball being played in casinos forced the move to Inglewood.
