Loyola Will Be Gunning for Triple Figures Tonight When It Plays Host to Pacific

Loyola Marymount will take another breakneck shot at triple figures tonight when the Lions play host to University of the Pacific at 7:30. The Lions (2-1) have scored 100 or more points in two of three games and are averaging 99.7.

“Anytime we don’t get over the century mark we feel we were defended pretty good,” Loyola Coach Paul Westhead said after St. John’s held them to 85.

Four Lions are averaging in double figures, led by Corey Gaines, 21.3 points a game; Hank Gathers, 20.3, and Mike Yoest, 17.7. The Lions are shooting 52%, and 50% from three-point range. Gaines is also averaging 9 assists and 4 steals a game.

Pacific (2-0) had trouble shooting last season but seems to have come up with a plan: Get the ball to junior forward Willie Tatum, who is averaging 21.5 points on 65.4% accuracy.

Other leading scorers are freshman forward Scott Hemsath, at 12.5 points a game, and junior forward Domingo Rosario, scoring 17 a game off the bench. Rosario, a native of baseball-happy San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic, is rebounding from a broken leg that sidelined him for nearly two years.