Loyola Revving Up for Opener : Scoring Machine Will Test Itself on Azusa Pacific

Gentlemen, start your engines.

After eight months in the grease pits and a preseason of high hopes and high hype, the Loyola Marymount University basketball team is off and running Monday night in a 7:30 game at Gersten Pavilion, the home of the 40-minute high-speed chase.

Monday’s opponent is little Azusa Pacific, which should provide a tune-up run for the Lions. That could be a blessing for Loyola, which is in need of some fine tuning, with several stars nursing a variety of nagging injuries.

The most worrisome injury is to junior forward Hank Gathers, who sat out last week’s exhibition game against Czechoslovakia with what was thought to be a slight groin pull. However, Gathers’ discomfort increased last week, to the point where he missed practice.

The 6-7 Gathers is Loyola’s best inside player and last season’s leading scorer and rebounder. The Lions probably have too much for Azusa Pacific to handle, but will need an effective Gathers for coming games with UC Santa Barbara and Oregon State.

The other injured players--guards Bo Kimble and Jeff Fryer--are back in uniform despite sore knees. They provide the Lions’ top 3-point shooting and were effective in Loyola’s final scrimmage last week. Kimble described his injury as “the kind you play with.” He added: “As long as I can run and shoot, I’ll be out there.” Those who have seen Kimble know he might even shoot if he can’t run.

Meanwhile, there are a number of healthy bodies who have had impressive preseasons, led by senior guard Enoch Simmons. Also looking good are forwards Per Stumer and Chris Knight and guards Terrell Lowery, Tom Peabody and Terry Mister.

Even with injuries, the Lions appear deeper than they’ve ever been at guard and forward, and capable of approaching last season’s nation-leading 110.3-point average.

The center situation is less certain. Senior John Veargason and junior Marcellus Lee give Loyola a pair of 6-10 post men. Veargason is a good outlet passer with a nice shooting touch but not a strong rebounder. Lee is more physically imposing but often still looks raw.

Azusa Pacific is one of the few teams Loyola will play that is smaller. The Cougars’ first-year Coach Terry Layton is the school’s first new coach in 32 years. Layton, who coached at Northwest Nazarene College in Idaho for seven years, replaces Cliff Hamlow, who retired as winningest active coach in NAIA ranks. However, recent Hamlow teams struggled.

Layton will start 6-6 Ryan Rienstra and 6-5 senior Mark Borgeson at forward, 6-5 Michael Benton at center and Titus Randle and Mark Moses at guard. Moses, a transfer from Division I, led the Cougars in scoring last season at 13.3 points per game.

Azusa Pacific won its season opener, 90-71, over Whittier College, with Benton and Moses scoring 23 points apiece.

Depending on Gathers’ availability, Lions Coach Paul Westhead--starting his fourth season in search of a third post-season berth--may start Veargason or go with a smaller front line of Gathers, Stumer and Kimble.

The Cougars may maintain a 90-point pace against Loyola and still lose by plenty. When the Lions are clicking this season, they won’t give opponents much time to make pit stops.