LAS VEGAS - Jermaine Ballisager Webb didn’t make a 3-point basket in his first 55 college games. Rarely attempted one. But the 7-footer’s ability to light it up from beyond the arc was a difference-maker in Portland’s 77-68 victory over Pepperdine in their first-round game at the Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Championship tournament on Thursday night.
 
Ballisager Webb made his first three attempts from deep and wound up 5-for-7 from 3-point distance, scoring a career-best 22 points to go with seven rebounds.
 
The ninth-seeded Pilots (14-18), beaten twice during the regular season by Pepperdine (9-23), advance to play a second-round game Friday against No. 8 seed Washington State (12-19). Tipoff is 6 p.m. at Orleans Arena.
 
Ballisager Webb spent his first two college seasons at American University, where he attempted a total of two 3-point shots. He transferred to Portland before last season and everything changed.
 
“I’ve always been able to shoot. Different coaching styles and whatever’s needed from me I’ll go out and do,” he said. “It’s trust in my work and trust from the coaching staff has really given me a lot of confidence to go out there and shoot the ball.”
 
Pepperdine head coach Ed Schilling said the Waves were aware Ballisager Webb was a capable perimeter shooter. “But we didn’t expect 5 of 7. Maybe one or two. Webb stepped up and he made key shots.”
 
He’d never made more than three in a game before Thursday night, but teammate James O’Donnell has seen this coming in practice. “I’ve seen Jermaine step up a lot. Seen him put in the work every single day. He’s been killing it, been rebounding,” O’Donnell said. “Other than the free throws, Jermaine played great today.”
 
Yes, the free throws . . . Ballisager Webb was just 3-for-9 from the foul line. But he made up for it from deep and also with a timely charge he took late in the game.
 
“He took a real charge,” Portland head coach Shantay Legans said. “He’s leading our team in charges, they’re more flops. That was a tough charge he took — that kid was coming at him really hard.”
 
He has benefited from the presence of first-team all-conference freshman point guard Joel Foxwell. “A lot of teams are really focusing in on Foxwell, so (Ballisager Webb’s) always going to be open because he’s guarded by a big guy. Jermaine pops out and shoots 3s and he’s been really elite at it lately.”
 
Born and raised in Denmark, Ballisager Webb had the significant advantage of two parents who played college basketball. His mother, Birna Ballisager, was a 6-3 center at an NAIA college in Oklahoma. His father, Kenneth Webb, was a 6-7 forward at Fairleigh Dickinson, where he averaged nearly 21 points as a senior.
 
Ballisager Webb often traveled to the U.S to attend basketball camps and he played high school ball at Montverde Academy in Florida. He also played on Denmark’s age-group national team.
 
“We looked at him prior to him getting to America. He shot the ball in FIBA for his country,” Legans said. “When he came to us, we knew he could shoot a little bit. You’ve got to give a lot of credit to the assistant coaches, they work with him a lot. Having him shoot those shots tonight, really proud of him and happy for him.”
 
WAVES LOSE STAR GUARD: Pepperdine sophomore guard Aaron Clark, a transfer from Wake Forest, suffered an injury with 4:13 remaining in the first half and the Waves trailing 35-31. Clark, averaging 15.5 points for the season but 22.5 over the previous 10 games, tried to return to the game but couldn’t.

"He tried and he couldn’t move,” Schilling said. “He said, `I just don’t want to hurt the team.’ It’s unfortunate. When AC went down, we didn’t have the firepower.”

“He’s been a big part of our team all year,” point guard Styles Phipps said. “His energy on the court, his offensive game is (second) to none in all of the WCC. We missed him out there.”

LIMPING LEGANS: Legans, in his fifth season as the Pilots head coach and a former college point guard, isn’t moving real well right now. He tore his right Achilles tendon a couple months ago and is navigating the sideline while wearing a heavy-duty boot.
 
“I’ve had this boot on for a long time,” Legans said. “I think it makes me look taller so I’m good.”
 
TOREROS STILL ALIVE: No. 11 seed San Diego (12-20) mounted an 11-point halftime lead and held off a second-half charge by LMU to win 66-62 —the same score the USD women used to beat Saint Mary’s earlier in the day. 
 
“Pleased that we extend our season,” said USD head coach Steve Lavin. That’s what championship week is all about . It’s a reset and an opportunity to string together some games and give yourself an opportunity to punch your ticket to March Madness. Dreaming big, that’s what this group is doing.”
 
The Toreros, who had lost twice to LMU (15-17) during the regular season, play Seattle U (19-12) in Friday night’s second-round game. Tipoff is 8:30 p.m.
 
Lavin, whose contract was not extended by USD, was gratified his club played so cohesively and was able to withstand the Lions’ rally. “I never felt it was a group that was going quietly into the night,” he said. “They’re feisty.”
 
“I thought they were extremely prepared,” LMU head coach Stan Johnson said of the Toreros. “I thought Coach Lavin did a great job with his group. The first half, we gave them way too many rhythm shots at the rim, they were 5-for-10 from 3 and we dug ourselves a hole. 
 
“I liked how we played the second half but when you give a team momentum, you give a team confidence like that, it’s hard to come back.”
 
MCINTYRE RELISHING THIS EXPERIENCE: A year ago, Adrian McIntyre was playing for Division II Westmont College, where he averaged 27.9 points. Now, after contributing 17 points, six rebounds and five assists to the win over LMU, he’s still alive in March.
 
“It’s really exciting,” the graduate guard said. “Last year, my senior year at Westmont, that was our first year eligible for the Pac West tournament. So being able to go from that to the WCC tournament is a huge leap up. It’s a joy, every second of it. Getting to travel to Las Vegas with the team, staying in the hotel with the guys. I love it.”
 
McIntyre said USD was not the only Division I school that offered him a scholarship, but that he immediately fell in love with San Diego and had trust in Lavin and his staff. “I think I made the right decision,” he said. “Actually, I know I made the right decision.”
 
Lavin praised McIntyre for the poise and maturity he brings to the team. “He’s a leader, the heart and soul of the group. I’m pleased with his intangibles,” Lavin said. “But also on the court, he’s got a knack for scoring. He’s very shifty, like a great running back.”
 
CELEBRATING THE LMU WOMEN’S SUCCESS: Johnson said he has been thrilled to watch head coach Aarika Hughes and the LMU women’s basketball team as they marched to the West Coast Conference regular season title.
 
“It’s awesome. It’s great for her. She’s a terrific coach,” Johnson said. “It’s been fun to watch their season, watch her build her program. It’s been amazing to see what they’ve done this year. They’re worthy of being champions. We couldn’t be more proud of Aarika and our women’s program.”