Jan. 27, 2007

Box Score

Moraga, CA - After winning four straight West Coast Conference game, Saint Mary's suffered a 68-66 loss to the Pepperdine Waves on Saturday night to snap the streak and end the six-game winning streak the Gaels held over the Waves.

Diamon Simpson recorded a double-double with game-highs of 24 points and 10 rebounds and nearly had a triple double as he had a career-high eight blocked shots. Wayne Hunter, who had 10 points in 23 minutes, joined Simpson in double figures.

Kingsley Costain led the Waves with 22 points after coming off the bench. Costain was joined in double figures by Marvin Lea with 10.

Pepperdine opened a 15-point (32-17) first half lead before the Gaels rallied to cut into the Waves' (6-16) advantage. The Gaels would use a 19-6 run down the stretch to get within two (38-36) following a Simpson dunk to close the first half. Pepperdine was sparked by 5-10 guard Costain's 18 first half points.

Saint Mary's came out in the second half and took a 41-40 following a Todd Golden 3-pointer at the 17:45 mark of the second half. Golden entered the game shooting 71 percent from 3-point range during conference play, and made 2-of-3 shots from behind the arc for the Gaels.

The Gael seesawed over the next eight minutes until Pepperdine used a 6-0 run to take a 61-55 lead at the 7:27 mark following a Blake Wallace three. The Gaels would cut the lead to one twice down the stretch, but could not convert to take the lead. Trailing 67-66 with 2:38 left to play, the Gaels had two opportunities to take the lead, but Simpson and Golden missed shots.

Pepperdine's Marvin Lea gave the Waves a 68-66 lead after making one of two free throws with five seconds left. After Simpson grabbed the rebound after the missed free throw, John Winston missed a shot with time winding down. Simpson grabbed the rebounds, his 10th of the game and the second half, but missed the tip-in that would have given the Gaels a win.

Saint Mary's finished the game shooting 46.4 percent from the floor after shooting 51 percent in the first half. SMC out rebounded the Waves 35-30.

Saint Mary's will return to action on Monday night when the Gaels host the Loyola Marymount Lions at 7 p.m.