SAN DIEGO — Despite having five players score in double figures after holding a 15-point lead midway through the first half, San Diego men's basketball was unable to hang on against Pepperdine on Saturday night, dropping a 83-77 decision to the Waves as West Coast Conference play continued at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

It was a tale of two halves for the Toreros (10-9, 0-4 WCC), who scored 48 points in the opening period before allowing the Waves (9-10, 2-2 WCC) to match that in the game's final 20 minutes. 

USD dominated the paint in the first half, outscoring the Waves 30-8 before losing the paint battle by a 20-10 margin in the final 20 minutes. Overall, Pepperdine outscored USD in fastbreak scoring, 25-9.  

USD was held scoreless for more than six minutes during the game's final seven minutes, which saw the Waves make a 17-0 run that led to the contest's only tie and lead change. 

Freshman guard Kevin Patton Jr. led the way for USD on offense with 16 points. Junior guard Wayne McKinney III scored 13, followed by senior guard Deven Dahlke and junior forward PJ Hayes with 11, and freshman forward Jimmy Oladokun Jr. with 10. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• McKinney III opened the scoring with a steal and a fastbreak layup and Oladokun Jr. added on with a bucket before Pepperdine could get on the board.
• Going into the first media timeout, USD held a 10-5 advantage that was highlighted by a ferocious, transition dunk by Patton Jr. The Toreros also limited the Waves to shooting just 22.2% (2-for-9) from the floor in the game's first five minutes. 
• The Toreros proceeded to open the lead to double digits, 21-11, which was fueled by a couple of buckets from junior center Steven Jamerson II as well as a three-pointer from Patton Jr. 
• San Diego then went on a 9-2 run lasting 2:34, prompting Pepperdine to call a timeout with 8:41 remaining in the first half as the Toreros led 30-15. During the run, USD made six of its last seven baskets. 
• Pepperdine cut the deficit down to nine with 7:46 remaining before Hayes nailed a three-pointer and Jamerson II hammered a dunk to get the lead back to a dozen, 35-23. 
• USD was able to retain its double-digit advantage with 3:05 remaining in the opening half, leading 42-32. Through this point, San Diego was outscoring Pepperdine in the paint, 26-8. 
• The Toreros ended the half leading 48-35. Hayes, Oladokun Jr. and Patton Jr. each led the team at the break with eight points and Jamerson II, McKinney III, and Dahlke were right behind with six. 
• Pepperdine scored the first eight points of the second half to cut their deficit down to five, 48-43, prompting an early timeout by the Toreros with 17:51 left in the game. 
• San Diego was able to get the lead back to eight with a couple of made free throws by Oladokun Jr, a layup by McKinney, and a three by Hayes to get the score to 55-47 with 15:13 remaining. 
• With 11:43 to go, USD had four of its five starters in double figures, highlighted by McKinney III and Hayes each having 11 points with the Toreros leading 62-54. 
• Although Pepperdine cut the deficit down to six on a pair of made free throws, McKinney III was able to find Dahlke at the top of the key for a three to get the Toreros' lead back to nine, 65-56, with 10:35 left in the game. 
• With 9:14 remaining, Dahlke made a free throw to reach 10 points and became the fifth Torero of the evening with double-digit points. 
• As Pepperdine held USD scoreless for more than three minutes, it embarked on a 9-0 run to complete its comeback and even the score at 71-71 with 4:11 remaining.It marked the first tie of the game.
• The Waves extended their run to 14-0 to take their first lead of the evening at 76-71 with 2:33 left. 
• A three on the wing in front of the San Diego bench from Patton Jr. cut USD's deficit down to 79-74 with 34.8 seconds left and ended the Waves' nearly nine-minute, 21-5 run.
• The freshman guard made all three of his free throws down the stretch to pull his team back within four with 19.3 seconds remaining, but the Toreros got no closer.

TORERO TIDBITS 

• San Diego's first 12 points on Saturday — which were scored in the contest's opening six minutes — came in the paint, representing a notable improvement after scoring only 20 in total against San Francisco on Thursday.
• USD's 48 points in the first half were the most the Toreros have scored in an opening period this season. 
• The Toreros shot 56.6% (30-for-53) from the floor and 61.5% (8-for-13) from beyond the arc against Pepperdine, which both marked season highs.
• USD also recorded 20 assists, its second-most in a game this season. 
• Patton Jr. recorded his third consecutive game with exactly 16 points, which is one point shy of his career high. His five assists against the Waves on Saturday night were a career high.
• Hayes, who was 3-of-4 from three-point range, recorded his best performance from beyond the arc since going 2-for-2 against St. Mary's on January 4 and 5-of-10 against Westcliff on December 31. 
• Dahlke went a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor and made his lone three-pointer enroute to 11 total points, which tied his career-high. 
• Jamerson II and Patton Jr. paced the Toreros with seven rebounds apiece against the Waves.
• Eight of San Diego's nine players who appeared in Saturday's game scored at least two points.  
• Junior guard Deuce Turner missed Saturday night's game due to injury. 

UP NEXT
The Toreros begin a stretch of playing three of their next four games away from the Jenny Craig Pavilion next week, when they travel to Oregon to take on Portland. Tip-off against the Pilots at the Chiles Center on Thursday night is set for 7:30 p.m.