Loyola Beats Eastern Namesake in Fast, Wild Game, 103-98

Loyola Marymount evened its record in the on-going basketball battle of the Loyolas Monday with a 103-98 victory over Loyola College of Maryland before a crowd of 1,010 in Gersten Pavilion.

The fast-paced game, which resulted in the end of a three-game losing streak for the Lions (6-4), gave Loyola Marymount a 1-1 record against its namesakes this season. Two weeks ago, they lost to Loyola of Chicago.

The Lions appeared to be in some trouble against the stubborn Greyhounds as well, falling behind, 21-5, at the start and facing several deficits in the second half.

But the superior inside play of center Vic Lazzaretti and forward Mike Yoest and some clutch plays down the stretch finally wore down the visitors, whose record fell to 4-3.

Lazzaretti, who scored a career-high 28 points to go with 15 rebounds, paced Loyola’s first-half comeback, scoring all 13 of his first-half points in an eight-minute stretch as the Lions pulled to within one, 36-35, with 4:19 left.

Meanwhile, Yoest warmed up to finish the half with 16 points and the Lions had a 53-47 halftime lead. The Greyhounds’ G-men, Tom Gormley and David Gately, had 21 and 12 points, respectively, in the half.

They stretched it to 64-55 early in the second half before the Greyhounds ran off a 12-2 burst to take a 67-66 lead. The two Loyolas then battled evenly--and somewhat raggedly--into the final minutes, when the Lions finally created some breathing room.

Sophomore guard Enoch Simmons sank two jump shots for a 96-90 lead. After Gately made two free throws, Yoest turned the ball over, then stole it back and passed to Lazzaretti for a dunk.

Yoest finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and his usual assortment of floor burns. Simmons, who hit two more free throws down the stretch, had his most productive night of the season with 19 points.

Gormley had a career-high 29 points and Gately added 20 for the visitors.

Lions Coach Paul Westhead, looking forward to Wednesday’s New Year’s Eve game against Marquette, said, “It was a real accomplishment to be down like we were. They had taken us out of our zone, and we got it done. It was a group effort, spearheaded by Lazzaretti. We’ll play better now. We needed a win.”

The Lions outrebounded the Greyhounds, 35-19, and outshot them, 56% to 43%.