Loyola Does Number on USF, 128-111

Two streaking teams continued on their opposite ways here Friday, but not before providing a few hours of diversion.

Loyola Marymount won its 14th straight game, beating the University of San Francisco, 128-111, at Memorial Gym. It was the most points ever scored against the Dons, surpassing the 121 by Nevada Las Vegas in 1977.

The Dons, who led as late as the 10-minute mark, lost their fourth straight.

Loyola is 17-3 overall and 7-0 in the West Coast Athletic Conference going into tonight’s contest at Santa Clara. The Broncos are 6-1.

USF fell to 11-9 and 3-4.

The first half was played at a frantic pace, even by Loyola standards. USF Coach Jim Brovelli thought his team might be able to stay with Loyola by bringing in platoons of substitutes and by running. But the Dons couldn’t sustain it down the stretch in either half.

“What we wanted to do was outnumber ‘em and attack the basket,” Brovelli said. “What was critical was decision making. We made the poor decisions, then it snowballed. We took the quick shot when we shouldn’t have.”

The Dons broke out of the gate at Loyola’s pace, and built several early leads as forward Patrick Clardy scored eight points in the first three minutes.

Loyola later put together a 10-0 run to take a 40-33 lead. The Dons came right back with a 12-1 run to build a 45-41 lead, but Loyola’s pressure defense began to take a toll--the Dons had 15 turnovers in the half--and several steals helped produce a 24-13 Loyola run in a three-minute span.

Loyola held a 66-60 lead at halftime.

Loyola broke on top in the second half, but the Dons tied the game, 77-77, on a three-point play by Mark McCathrion, then went on a 10-0 spree to lead, 87-77. But it was the Dons’ last gasp.

Lion guard Jeff Fryer got hot from the outside, hitting five three-pointers and scoring 20 points in the half. He finished with a career-high 22 points. Inside, senior forward Mark Armstrong had 18 points and 19 rebounds, many down the stretch as Loyola tied the game, 88-88, with 9:50 remaining, and then pulled away.

Loyola was led by Hank Gathers’ 25 points and Bo Kimble with 24 as it increased its nation-leading scoring average to 109.2 points per game.

Guard Keith Jackson kept the Dons in the game with 18 second-half points to finish with 32. Clardy had 19 and McCathrion 18.

Loyola shot 53% and outrebounded USF, 49-42. The Dons shot 59% but had 24 turnovers.