SAN DIEGO -- After 35 minutes of wretched basketball and five minutes of inspired play to extend the evening, this game carried on the only way it could in overtime -- with Pepperdine outscoring Portland 4-2 in overtime to secure a 50-48 win. This is officially the ugliest college game I've witnessed in person.
How ugly was it, you ask? Well I'll tell you.
SAN DIEGO -- After 35 minutes of excruciating basketball, Portland decided to step up and make this a compelling basketball game. Now we have overtime. Nick Raivo capped off a 13-2 run with a layup in the waning seconds after stripping Mike Hornbuckle to tie the game at 46, where it stands at the end of regulation.
What this all means is that I shouldn't have busted on Portland for the entire game. I shouldn't have called it for Pepperdine with about six minutes remaining. And I really shouldn't have asked the basketball gods for no overtime early in the first half.
SAN DIEGO -- As much as Portland and its fans have entertained me, I don't think they'll be back on Saturday. Pepperdine holds a 44-33 lead with 6:15 remaining and looks in full control.
Normally an 11-point deficit with this much time left wouldn't be insurmountable, but the way this game is going, I'd be stunned if the Pilots pulled it out.
The box score through the first 34 minutes is one of the strangest I've seen. Portland is crushing Pepperdine on the boards (33-19) and in field goal percentage (43-33), but the Waves have forced 17 turnovers while committing just five. It's been a weird, ugly game.
SAN DIEGO -- I don't know whether to laugh at them or with them. The Portland dance squad took the floor at halftime with a couple of guys in the routine, one of them very tall and very hairy.
Now I've gotten used to and understand the need for male cheerleaders in college athletics (to a point), but these guys were gyrating and shaking it like they were Laker girls (The tall dude in the middle was the star of the show). And they were good.
The whole time they did it with straight faces, so I'm not sure if they have mad comic skills or if they were serious. Either way, it was worth the price of admission.
Meanwhile Portland has cut the halftime deficit to 29-21 with 15:32 left in the game. Watch out Pepperdine.
SAN DIEGO -- There are a couple of cute girls about four rows behind the Portland bench holding a big "Go Pilots" sign. Those girls are awesome. Any girl that would travel the bulk of the west coast (I assume they're students) to see this sorry display of basketball is the kind of girl I'd like to meet.
So far their Pilots have rewarded their dedication with a 15-point first half effort highlighted by a 6-of-19 performance from the field. Lucky for them, Pepperdine isn't much better and just holds a 27-15 lead.
Amazingly Portland has outrebounded Pepperdine 24-10. That's an awesome stat in so many ways, mostly in that they've managed to secure 14 more rebounds and 12 fewer points than their opponent -- at halftime. Here's hoping there's no overtime.
SAN DIEGO -- While the WCC nightcap doesn't have much basketball to speak of, it does feature a sweet mascot. Willie the Wave is rad.
As for the game itself, the WCC's 6-7 matchup is living up to its billing. No. 6 Pepperdine holds a 15-9 lead with 7:55 left in the first half. An offensive showcase, this is not.
SAN DIEGO -- Ugh -- this one's off to an early start. We're at the first media timeout and Portland hasn't scored yet. Pepperdine is off to an 8-0 start with a pair of 3-point buckets. Portland is 0-for-6 from the field with three turnovers. It could get ugly.
SAN DIEGO -- Though far from a sellout, the stands are filling up for the WCC nightcap; I'm taking three guesses as to why.
1) People struggled in the early game with rush-hour traffic on a Friday in San Diego.
2) USD fans want to check out who the Toreros will play in Saturday's semifinals.
3) Pepperdine fans are more dedicated than LMU fans, both of whom had a short drive from the L.A. I'll let Portland and San Francisco fans off the hook. That's a long way to travel to see your losing basketball team likely get knocked out early.
