After a 78-72 home win over Santa Clara last Saturday, the Dons (18-6, 6-4 WCC) will remain at the friendly confines when Pepperdine comes to the Hilltop.  Thursday's game will not be televised but will be streamed online via TheW.tv with Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli handling play-by-play duties.  As always, you can tune your radio dial to 1550-AM The GAME, the home of USF Dons Basketball, to hear Olson and Brovelli live courtside.

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Feb. 14, 2019 – 7:00 p.m. PST
Opponent: Pepperdine Waves (12-13, 5-6 WCC)
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Streaming:  TheW.tv
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Radio:  1550-AM The GAME
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Live Stats: USFDons.com
Game Notes: USF vs. Pep
 
USF AT A GLANCE

• At 18-6, USF is off to their best start through 24 games since the 1981-82.  USF has started the season 17-6 or better 10 times, with the previous nine teams all advancing to the post season.
• The Dons are 12-1 at home this season after defeating Santa Clara 78-72 last Saturday.  USF is +15.3 in the scoring margin at home this season.  Under head coach Kyle Smith the Dons are 39-11 at War Memorial at the Sobrato Centers.
• Senior Frankie Ferrari and sophomore Charles Minlend have combined to form a potent scoring tandem.  Against Santa Clara they both scored 14.0 points apiece.  Over the last five games both players are averaging 15.1 ppg.  
• The Dons are 6-4 in the WCC and currently sit in third in the standings.  With six games remaining the Dons have three road games and three home contests remaining to try and catch BYU for the second seed. 
• With the victory last Saturday against Santa Clara, head coach Kyle Smith earned his 60th at USF. Smith improves to 60-36 at the helm of the Dons. His current winning percentage of .626 is fifth best among active coaches in the WCC and eighth best in USF history.
• Seniors Nate Renfro and Matt McCarthy are moving ever closer to the career games played record at USF.  Renfro has played in 125 games, while McCarthy has played in 124.  The record of 128 was set by Angelo Caloiaro (2008-12).
• The Dons have seen a huge boost in their attendance this season.  USF is averaging 2,192 fans per game this season.  Last year, the second under head coach Kyle Smith, the Dons were averaging 1,720 fans per contest. 
• Charles Minlend has scored in double figures in 23 of 24 games this season, including 22-straight.  When Minlend scores 10 or more for his career USF is 29-11.
• Frankie Ferrari has 99 career steals, with one more he will join the century club.  Nate Renfro is right behind with 97 career steals. 

 
THE SERIES
USF will complete its two-game series against the Waves on Thursday.  It will be the 134th matchup between these two teams.  Earlier this year, the Dons defeated the Waves 72-69 at Firestone Fieldhouse on Jan. 5.  All-time the Dons own an 81-52 (.609) advantage in the series.  At home, USF is 43-20 against the Waves and 40-20 at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.  In recent history, USF has won eight of the last 10 matchups against the Waves at the friendly confines. 
 
ABOUT THE WAVES
Pepperdine begins a three-game road trip on Thursday and come to the Hilltop sporting a 12-13 overall record and are 5-6 in the WCC.  On the road this season the Waves are 2-8.  In their last 10, Pepperdine is 4-6.  Their last time out, the Waves defeated San Diego 70-67 at home. As a team, Pepperdine is averaging 76.6 ppg and shooting 44.2 percent from the field, their opponents are averaging 73.3 ppg and shooting 45.3 percent from the field.  Leading the team in scoring is sophomore Colbey Ross who is averaging 18.6 ppg. 
 
LAST GAME AGAINST PEPPERDINE
On January 5 in Malibu the Waves put a scare into the Dons before USF rallied in the final 30 seconds to come away with the 72-69 win at Firestone Fieldhouse.  The Dons nearly blew a six point lead with four minutes remaining when Pepperdine went up two with 26 seconds remaining.  With 14 seconds left in regulation Frankie Ferrari pulled up from beyond the arc with the Dons trailing 69-67 and hit one of the biggest 3-point field goals in his career, giving USF a 70-69 lead.  But the heroics did not end there.  Needing another stop, Jamaree Bouyea came up with the biggest steal of his career with four seconds remaining and was fouled – the ensuing free throws put the game away.  Charles Minlend had 21 to lead all scorers, Jimbo Lull had a career-high 18 points.
 
UP NEXT
On Saturday the Dons will travel to the Rose City when they take on Portland at the Chile Center.  Saturday's game is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start. It will be televised on NBC Sports California+ and streamed on TheW.tv.