Loyola, Off to a Rolling Start, Wins, 76-73, Over UOP as Keith Smith Scores 29 Points

Point guard Keith Smith scored 29 points to lead Loyola Marymount to a 76-73 nonconference victory over University of the Pacific Saturday night at Stockton.

The victory gave Loyola a 5-1 record, its best start in 33 years. The 1952-53 team opened with six straight wins.

Forrest McKenzie had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Lions, and senior forward Fred Bradford came off the bench to score seven points and grab nine rebounds.

Bradford’s biggest rebound came with five seconds left when he grabbed a missed six-foot shot by Pacific’s Domingo Rosario with Loyola leading, 75-73.

Bradford was fouled on the play and made one of two foul shots to wrap up the victory.

Rich Anema scored 21 points to lead the Tigers (3-3).

Pacific led, 48-44, with 16:47 left, but the Lions outscored the Tigers 18-5 to take a 62-53 lead with 9:42 left. A 10-footer by Rosario brought Pacific within one at 74-73 before Loyola’s starting freshman guard, Enoch Simmons, hit a foul shot with 31 seconds left to make it 75-73.

Loyola made 22 of 25 free throws, with Smith hitting 9 of 9. Pacific made 30 of 66 field-goal attempts (45.4%), Loyola 27 of 57 (47.3%).