Poor Shooting Dooms Pepperdine : Waves: They play without leading scorer Dexter Howard and make only 39% of field-goal attempts in 82-67 loss.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Pepperdine was missing two things Saturday night: leading scorer Dexter Howard and the basket.

Portland’s Josh Lowery didn’t miss much. The senior guard from Oakland scored 22 points as the Pilots routed the Waves, 82-67, in a West Coast Conference game in front of 2,689 at Chiles Center.

Howard, who was averaging 15 points, apparently pulled a tendon in his left knee Thursday night against Gonzaga. It is unknown when he will return, and he will be examined by a physician Monday.

Howard was missed against the Pilots but so were most of the shots his teammates attempted.

The Waves shot only 34.6% from the field in the first half and trailed at halftime, 40-27.

Pepperdine improved to 42.4% in the second half and twice pulled to within 10 points of the Pilots.

But that was as close as the Waves could get. They wound up shooting 39%.

Lowery made four of seven three-point shots and was eight of 14 from the field.

The victory enabled Portland (6-13, 3-3 in the conference) to sweep two games from Pepperdine (9-10, 3-3) for the first time since 1981.

Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said that four Waves played with the flu: Shann Ferch, Rick Welch, Geoff Lear and Doug Christie.

“But that’s not an excuse,” he said. “We can make up a lot of excuses, but we just can’t be inconsistent and expect to win on the road.

“Despite all that, I think we’re a better team than we showed tonight.”

Pepperdine’s Craig Davis scored 19 points on six-of-11 shooting. Ferch, who made three of six three-point shots, cored 11.

Portland’s Erik Spoelstra scored 14 points and Matt Houle and Steve Hutchinson had 12 apiece.

Portland shot 53% (27 of 51) and outrebounded the Waves, 35-32.