Loyola Takes It on 104-96 Win Over Santa Clara

The relentless Lions of Loyola Marymount rolled to the championship of the West Coast Athletic Conference tournament Monday night and earned a bid to the NCAA tournament, defeating host Santa Clara, 104-96, in Toso Pavilion.

The Lions, who were 14-0 in regular-season play in the WCAC, won the tournament the way they had won so many games in the regular season, with a high-octane offense and just enough defense.

Hank Gathers scored 24 points and Bo Kimble added 20 as the Lions (27-3), who led 51-49 at halftime, built and held a 10-point lead through most of the second half. Disdaining the stall, the Lions hit the 100-point mark with 52 seconds to play on a free throw by Kimble.

Santa Clara finished its season 20-10.

As has become their fashion lately, the Lions began slowly and fell behind by as many as 10 points, then stormed back in the final minutes of the half to take a 51-49 lead at the break. Jeff Fryer’s jumper at the buzzer gave Loyola its first lead of the game.

The teams traded baskets through the first eight minutes, producing an 18-18 tie. But with guards Osei Appiah and Jeffty Connelly consistently breaking away from or through the Loyola defense, Santa Clara built a 39-29 lead. Appiah and Connelly had a total of 24 points in the first half.

Corey Gaines, who had 17 points in the half on 6-for-6 shooting, led the Lions’ comeback, aided by a technical foul on the Santa Clara coaches for protesting a foul. Gaines hit a jumper and a three-pointer to cut the lead in half, and Kimble hit one of the free throws to pull the Lions within 39-35.

Kimble again got off to a slow start, shooting 2 for 15. The high-scoring guard entered the game hitting only 33% in the tournament.

Mike Yoest’s three-point play, part of his 13 halftime points, pulled the Lions within 41-38, and Loyola finally pulled even at 47-all with 50 seconds left on a three-pointer by Fryer.

The teams tied for the sixth time in the half at 49-all, and Santa Clara, holding for the last shot of the half, turned the ball over. Fryer shot and swished as the clock ran out.

Fryer’s shot gave Loyola the lead despite Santa Clara’s 69% shooting for the half.