SportsScope : Lions Battle Loyola (Maryland), Then Strong Marquette

Loyola Marymount University, after losing at Cal State Fullerton Tuesday night, will close out its pre-conference basketball schedule with a three-game home stand that includes Loyola of Maryland on Monday and powerful Marquette on New Year’s Eve. The Loyola-Loyola game begins at 7:30 p.m. The game with Marquette, Loyola’s biggest non-conference home opponent, begins at 2 p.m.

The Lions play host to U.S. International University at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 3 before beginning West Coast Athletic Conference play.

Loyola takes a 5-4 record and three-game losing streak--all on the road--into Monday’s game. Junior forwards Mike Yoest and Mark Armstrong lead the way, averaging 23.6 and 14.4 points a game, respectively, and pulling down 8.1 and 10.7 rebounds. Both are shooting nearly 60%% from the field. Senior point guard Chris Nikchevich, playing with a tender knee, is scoring 14.1 points per game and adding 9.3 assists, which ranks among national leaders.

Loyola Coach Paul Westhead has inserted senior Vic Lazzaretti into the starting lineup and used 6-10 sophomore John Veargason extensively off the bench against Fullerton. Yoest sprained his left ankle against Fullerton but is expected to play against Loyola.

Cal State Dominguez Hills’ men’s basketball team will close out a nine-game home stand with 7:30 p.m. contests against Cal State Hayward on Saturday and Malone College of Ohio on Tuesday. The Toros, coming off a 10-day break, enter the weekend with a 7-2 record. Senior forward William Alexander needs eight points to break Eddie Fitzpatrick’s school career scoring record of 1,335 points. Alexander is averaging 20 points and shooting 58% from the floor. Sophomore guard Vico Nomaaea is chipping in 12.1 points and sophomore forward Tony Akins 11.7 per game. Sophomore center Anthony Blackmon is the leading rebounder with an 8.8 average.

A welcome addition to the Toro lineup is sophomore guard Leonard Eaton, who missed five games with a broken finger. In his first extended action this season, Eaton came off the bench to hit seven of eight shots and score 14 points in 18 minutes against Cal Baptist. Junior guard Barry Johnson has missed the last two games with back spasms but should be in uniform.