Loyola Becomes a Late Night Loser : UC Santa Barbara Holds Off Lion Comeback to Win, 95-94

Late Night with Paul Westhead may not have been a hit with the critics, but the ending had enough twists to make it interesting.

In a game that started at 9:25 p.m. because it was being televised by ESPN, Loyola Marymount didn’t come close to matching its normal scoring pace against a frustrating UC Santa Barbara defense. But a gallant comeback by the Lions excited the Events Center sellout crowd of 6,000 before the Gauchos squeaked through with a 95-94 victory.

The Lions, down by as many as 17 points midway through the second half, managed to pull even at 82-82 with 2:43 left but couldn’t withstand a final Santa Barbara spurt. Loyola lost despite 35 points by Hank Gathers.

Santa Monica High School graduates Carrick DeHart and Carlton Davenport hit the key baskets down the stretch for the Gauchos. DeHart finished with 24 points, while Davenport added 16, most of them late in the game. Forward Mike Doyle scored 23 points for the Gauchos.

Forward Eric McArthur, who spent much of the game in foul trouble, assured the Gauchos of the win by sinking 2 free throws with 11 seconds to play.

Loyola’s Per Stumer hit a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left, but by then it was too late.

Santa Barbara improved its record to 2-0; Loyola dropped to 1-1.

Santa Barbara hit 7 of its first 8 shots and used a tough man-to-man defense to build leads of 13 points midway through the first half.

With Doyle and DeHart leading the way, the Gauchos led from the first basket and scored on a series of easy shots to build a 32-19 advantage. Doyle and DeHart combined for 15 of the points.

Despite the tight defense that made Loyola look disorganized for much of the half--with 13 turnovers--the Lions used 3-pointers to pull within 4 at halftime, 48-44. The Lions were outshot by Santa Barbara in the first half, 65% to 53%, but hit 5 3-pointers.

Loyola went on a 12-4 run, keyed by a pair of 3-pointers by Jeff Fryer, and the Lions pulled within 39-34. Gathers hit a short bank-shot just before halftime to draw the Lions within 4. The Lions post man scored 12 points in the half. Doyle had 13 and DeHart 11 for the Gauchos.

The Gauchos quickly rebuilt the lead to double figures as DeHart scored on two drives and Loyola was unable to cash in numerous attempts, opening the half shooting 1 for 10. When DeHart hit a third layup, the Gauchos led, 62-47, just 5 minutes into the second half.

The situation looked even bleaker for Loyola when a Doyle jumper built the lead to 64-47 and Fryer was charged with his fourth foul.

Despite a 35% shooting figure midway through the second half, Loyola fought back within 8 at 78-70 with 7 minutes left behind Gathers’ inside play and 3-pointers by Enoch Simmons and Terrell Lowery, but the Gauchos prevailed at the end.