By Bob Murphy

ANAHEIM, Calif.— Has the ship been righted? One can only hope…

Junior Nate Watson and sophomore A.J. Reeves scored 15 points apiece to lead the Providence College Friars over the Pepperdine Waves, 80-77, in the 7-8 game at the Wooden Legacy Tournament at the Anaheim Arena at Anaheim Convention Center on Sunday. The win softened the blow suffered by losses to lowly Long Beach State on Thanksgiving Day, and the College of Charleston on Friday in the tournament.

Watson went 7-for-10 from the field and grabbed three rebounds. Reeves shot 4-for-8 from the field and 2-for-6 from three-point land. Senior swingman Alpha Diallo , who scored 13 points and had two steals, led the Friars in both rebounds (nine) and assists (six), while David Duke added 10 points and grabbed five boards.

When play resumed, 5-11 grad student Luwane Pipkins popped in the first trey of the afternoon and followed with a quick floater to bring the Friars within one, 12-11, with 12:01 left in the half. Although Reeves and Watson were able to finish in the paint coming out of the timeout, Pepperdine held onto the lead and was up by four, 23-19, with 7:54 left in the half.

Senior forward Kalif Young opened the scoring for the Friars with a jump shot from inside. The Vaughan, Ontario, native finished the contest with eight points and seven boards. The Friars struggled at the outset, and trailed 7-2 at the first media time out.

Providence went on a 6-0 run with made baskets from Watson and Diallo—both in the paint—giving the Friars a 26-25 with 4:52 remaining in the period. After the teams traded baskets, PC extended its lead to seven with less than a minute on the clock, sparked by threes from White, Gantt and a put back slam from Watson giving the Friars a 38-31 lead at intermission. Providence shot 14-for-30 (46.7 percent) from the field in the first half, including 3-for-12 (25 percent) from beyond the arc. The Waves were 12-for-30 (40 percent) from the floor and 4-for-11 (36.4 percent) from downtown. The Friars owned the glass in the first half, hauling down 24 boards compared to Pepperdine's, 12.





Pepperdine opened the half with a three to pull within four. Young answered with a reverse layup and quickly got back on defense to force a Pepperdine turnover. At the other end, White scored his second trey. The Waves responded with a three-pointer of their own to cut the Friar lead to six, 43-37.



With 16:40 on the clock, Pepperdine went on a 7-0 run that Reeves ended with a pair of made free throws followed by a three to make the score 48-41 with 13:19 left. Diallo converted on one in the paint to give the Friars an 11-point lead. Less than 30 seconds later, Holt found himself in the same situation down low, and converted one in the paint and got fouled. He converted the free throw for a traditional three-point play and gave the Friars a 14-point lead, nd getting sent to the line. Holt made the free throw to give PC a 61-47 lead, their largest of the lead of the day.

Providence head coach Ed Cooley implores his team to give it their all in

the Friars' victory over Pepperdine at the Wooden Legacy Tournament

in California. Next up is URI in Kingston. the night which the Waves were able to answer on their end with a three of their own. Pepperdine's Jan Zidek fouled out with 5:30 on the clock sending Watson to the line for an and one. Providence led by nine, 63-54, with 7:28 remaining in regulation. Reeves buried his second three ofthe night which the Waves were able to answer on their end with a three of their own. Pepperdine's Jan Zidek fouled out with 5:30 on the clock sending Watson to the line for an and one.

Going into the final media timeout Providence led 71-67. Colbey Ross scored the last eight points for the Waves, while Duke responded with four points on a dunk and layup.