SportsScope : First-Place Loyola Cagers Gun for Record Winning Streak

Loyola Marymount University, riding its hottest streak in 18 years, will look to extend its eight-game winning streak as it plays its next five basketball games at home. The University of San Diego and St. Mary’s College visit Friday and Saturday, respectively, at 7:30 p.m. Loyola road victories over both schools last week gave the Lions possession of first place in the West Coast Athletic Conference. Loyola is shooting for its first WCAC title since 1961 and is two games away from the school’s all-time winning streak of 10, set in 1948-49.

Seniors Keith Smith and Forrest Walton-McKenzie continue to give the Lions scoring punch, averaging 23.9 and 19.4 points, respectively. Smith also leads the WCAC in assists, averaging 6.6, and was named WCAC player of the month for January. Sophomore forward Mike Yoest was named WCAC player of the week after scoring 37 points in the two victories. He shot 9 for 13 from the floor and 19 of 22 from the foul line to raise his scoring average to 8.9. Freshman guard Enoch Simmons is just ahead at 9.2.

San Diego is 14-6 overall and 4-2 in the WCAC, a game behind second-place Pepperdine (5-1). St. Mary’s is 9-10 and 2-4.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills basketball team opens the second round of California Collegiate Athletic Assn. play on the road, traveling to Cal State Northridge on Friday and Cal State Los Angeles on Saturday. The Toros take a 2-5 conference record (7-13 overall) into the weekend. Northridge is 1-6 and 8-21 and Cal State L. A. is 5-2 and 11-5. Northridge has lost five in a row since beating the Toros in Carson. Cal State L. A. had an 11-game win streak snapped last week and has lost two straight. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m.

Freshman James Blackmon had his best game as a Toro last week, getting 20 points and 10 rebounds against league leader UC Riverside. Blackmon also leads the conference in free-throw percentage, having hit 35 of his last 38. Junior William Alexander leads the team with an 18.9 average in conference games, best in the CCAA. He is averaging 16.7 overall. Freshman Tony Akins leads overall with a 16.9 average but is shooting only 29% in the last five games.

El Segundo High will play its annual alumni baseball game--featuring George and Ken Brett and Scott McGregor--at 1 p.m. Saturday at Recreation Park. The game pits odd-year graduates against even-year counterparts. Pre-game activities, including batting practice, a home run contest and a photo and autograph session, begin at 10 a.m. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for youths under 18. Proceeds will benefit the El Segundo baseball program.

The Loyola Marymount baseball team will play host to Cal State Los Angeles in a noon double-header Saturday, then travel to UCLA for a 2:30 p.m. game Tuesday. The Lions opened the season with a double-header sweep of U. S. International University, 11-5 and 3-1. Tim Layana and Mark Stomp were the winning pitchers, with complete games (the second went only five innings). Center fielder Billy Bean highlighted an eight-run inning in the first game with a bases-loaded triple.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills baseball team, rated fourth in a national preseason poll in Division II, plays its home opener Saturday against U. S. International University at 1 p.m. The Toros play host to UC Irvine on Tuesday and travel to UCLA on Wednesday. Dominguez Hills was one of four California Collegiate Athletic Assn. teams in the preseason Top 10, with Northridge second, UC Riverside sixth and Cal Poly Pomona eighth. Defending champion Florida Southern was ranked first.