Relaxed Loyola Rolls Over Pepperdine : Lazzaretti Has 25 as Lions Win Regular-Season Finale, 98-78

Loyola Marymount didn’t have much to prove Wednesday night, and that proved unlucky for Pepperdine. The relaxed Lions rolled to a 98-78 victory over the Waves before a crowd of 1,850 at Loyola.

In a regular-season finale that often looked like a shootaround for the Lions, Loyola went inside early to center Vic Lazzaretti, who had 10 of the team’s first 12 points. The Lion guards pumped in 10 three-point shots as Loyola posted its largest margin of victory over the Waves in 19 years and its first win against them in Gersten Pavilion.

The victory by the last-place Lions (12-15 overall, 4-10 in the West Coast Athletic Conference) dropped Pepperdine to seventh place at 10-17 and 5-9. Loyola will open the WCAC tournament Saturday at first-place San Diego, while Pepperdine will travel to Gonzaga, which clinched second place with a victory over Portland.

Loyola built a 46-37 first-half lead as Lazzaretti scored 16 points inside and guards Chris Nikchevich, Jeff Fryer and Dennis Vogel pumped in two three-pointers apiece.

Pepperdine stayed in the half behind guard Craig Davis’ 12 points and Eric White’s 11. The Waves held an early 11-9 advantage, but Lazzaretti converted a three-point play and Pepperdine never led again. Loyola was on top at the half, 50-44.

The Lions stormed out of intermission, hitting four straight shots to take a 58-44 lead, and the Waves never came closer than nine points.

Lazzaretti finished with 25 points and 9 rebounds on 11-for-12 shooting. Nikchevich added 19 points, hitting 4 of 5 three-pointers, and Mike Yoest had 16. The Lions shot 59% from the floor, including 10 of 20 from three-point range.

White had 23 points for Pepperdine. Davis added 20. The Waves shot 47% from the field.

Both coaches said their teams are ready for the WCAC tournament. Westhead said the Lions “weren’t coming in tonight feeling down. They were feeling up--we had to play well tonight to expect to play well Saturday. We’re playing the best we have in weeks.”

The Lions have won two of their last three games by comfortable margins. “I didn’t think we had a last-place ballclub--I thought the difference in the league was the trembling of a leaf,” Westhead said.

Pepperdine Coach Jim Harrick said Wednesday night’s loss wouldn’t hinder the Waves. “This will have no effect,” he said. “We like to play up there (Gonzaga). Give Loyola a lot of credit. They played a great ballgame.”