Loyola Runs Away and Beats Gonzaga, 116-100

With 10:27 left in the game, Loyola Marymount withstood a Gonzaga rally, scored several baskets off steals to take an 84-70 lead and forced the Bulldogs to call a timeout.

During the break, the Gersten Pavilion speakers blared, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”

The Bulldogs knew what the Rolling Stones were singing about. In fact, the song might have been more appropriate late in the first half when Loyola turned up the power on the way to a 116-100 victory.

The win was Loyola’s 12th straight and improved its record to 15-3 overall and 5-0 in the West Coast Athletic Conference. It was also Loyola’s 12th game in triple figures.

The Lions, who were trailing, 29-22, with 9:17 left in the half, used their harassing fullcourt press and the shooting of Bo Kimble to go on a 32-13 run and take a 59-42 halftime lead.

The Lions took a lead at 38-37, saw Gonzaga tie it, then outscored the Bulldogs, 11-4, in the final minutes. In that spurt, Kimble broke the tie with a layup off a behind-the-back bounce pass from Hank Gathers, and moments later hit a three-pointer off an in-bounds pass.

A minute later, Kimble hit a three-pointer from the corner, stole the in-bounds pass for a layup and repeated that on Gonzaga’s next in-bounds for 7 points in 29 seconds.

Gonzaga pulled within eight points several times late in the game, but the Bulldogs tired playing at Loyola’s pace and wilted.

Kimble finished with 27 points to share scoring honors with forward Danny Roe and guard Doug Spradley.

Mike Yoest added 23 points and Gathers and Corey Gaines 18 apiece.

Loyola took 101 shots to 59 for Gonzaga, offsetting the Bulldogs’ 69% shooting. Gonzaga is 10-8 and 1-4.

The Lions play host to Portland tonight, when they could take over the national scoring lead. They increased their average to 107.4 Friday night. Oklahoma is averaging 107.7.

“Our guys just really got after it,” Loyola Coach Paul Westhead said. “Our defense is much like our offense. It’s simple and absolute and there’s no middle ground.”