Final Buzzer Sounds for Loyola, Morningside, Palos Verdes : Loss to North Carolina Leaves Lions Growling

Its first loss in more than three months ended Loyola Marymount’s basketball season here Saturday, but Lions players weren’t ready to hang up the sneakers without taking a few more shots at North Carolina.

The Lions were stopped, 123-97, in the second round of the NCAA playoffs on a record-setting performance by North Carolina. They went down in a blaze of shots--103 to be exact--but could hit only 33 of them, while Carolina was hitting 79% from the floor, an NCAA playoff record.

Before the game, several Tar Heels players wouldn’t come to half-court to shake the Lions hands during introductions. Coach Dean Smith later said that that is team policy because of hostile Atlantic Coast Conference crowds.

During the game, several Lions had confrontations with Tar Heel star forward J. R. Reid. And in post-game comments, several Lions said they were impressed with the Tar Heels on the floor but not off it.

Bo Kimble, what’s your opinion?

“I’m glad you asked that,” the sophomore guard said. “I have no respect for J. R. He was arguing during the game, saying negative stuff. I thought he showed a lot of negative character. He’s less than a human to me, as a person. He’s a good player, but I don’t think J. R. will go far with an attitude like that.”

The Lions had advanced to Saturday’s second round with a 119-115 victory over Wyoming. Loyola center Hank Gathers said he thought Wyoming had better athletes than North Carolina. “I thought North Carolina was coached better,” Gathers noted.

Four-year starter Mike Yoest, who closed out his career third on Loyola’s all-time scoring list, may have had a better perspective. The 6-7 Yoest finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds but had trouble getting his shot off against the 6-9 Reid and 6-10 center Scott Williams. He also had to cover them often on defense. Reid had 19 points and 15 rebounds and made 8 of 10 shots.

Yoest said he thought North Carolina’s players would tire at Loyola’s pace, but Tar Heels Coach Dean Smith substituted liberally, and at the end Loyola was the physically spent team.

“I didn’t think his bench would ever end,” Yoest said. “They kept coming in waves and they’re all 6-8, 6-9, 240.”

The game was over by the half, when North Carolina led, 65-40. But most of the Lions said they thought a comeback still possible.

“We were confident. We knew we could come back if we could hit some three-pointers and wear ‘em down,” Yoest said. “Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.”

Coach Paul Westhead said, “I felt with about five minutes to go we were still in it.” At that point the score was 108-82.

Yoest, Mark Armstrong and Corey Gaines played their last Loyola games on Saturday. Armstrong fouled out with 7 points and 3 rebounds. Gaines had a rough day shooting but finished with 17 points and 10 assists.

Kimble started the season injured and rejoined the lineup when the team was 3-3. With Kimble the Lions won 25 straight and finished 28-4. He had only 8 points on Saturday and shot 3 for 21.

“I’m not down,” Kimble said. “I had a great season and the team had a super season. That was my first loss. I felt more depressed and sorry for our seniors, who carried us early. I still have time to do a little better. It’s not bad losing to a team like Dean Smith and North Carolina.”

Gathers, a sophomore who had 17 points and 12 rebounds on Saturday, said, “I have no regrets. We’ll be back.”