Kimble, Gathers Each Score 40 in Loyola’s 147-136 Victory

Bo Kimble continued his rapid-fire comeback Saturday night, scoring a career-high 40 points to pace another record-setting Loyola Marymount victory, 147-136, over Gonzaga.

A crowd of 3,763 at Gersten Pavilion saw Loyola close out its home schedule by setting a West Coast Athletic Conference point record for the second straight night.

Additionally, both teams set a WCAC record for combined points in a game, 283, and in a half, scoring 86 apiece after halftime. They also set a National Collegiate Athletic Assn. mark with their combined 172 in a half.

The victory kept Loyola (16-9 overall) within a game of first place in the WCAC at 9-3, while Gonzaga is 4-8 and 13-12.

The game produced three 40-point scorers--Kimble and Hank Gathers for Loyola, and Doug Spradley for the Bulldogs. It was Gathers’ fourth 40-point game this season.

“I keep saying come to Loyola, you’ll get 40,” Lion Coach Paul Westhead said with a grin, “with us or against us.”

Gonzaga didn’t go down easily, leading for much of the first half until the Lions got hot in the last eight minutes. Kimble provided much of the spark.

Gonzaga led, 34-29, when the Lions went on a 30-15 run, with Kimble scoring 14 in the spree. He had 24 points at halftime, including five of six three-pointers.

Loyola built a 61-50 lead at halftime, despite Gonzaga’s 62% shooting.

Loyola opened the second half with a seven-point run, with Kimble scoring two baskets and assisting on Jeff Fryer’s three-pointer, as the Lions took a 70-54 lead.

The Bulldogs fought back within four, 76-72, on a Spradley free throw, before Loyola’s pressure finally wore them down.

“We just have too much firepower when we get the outside and inside going,” Westhead said.

Gonzaga Coach Dan Fitzgerald agreed: “They’re a different team with Kimble. If they can shoot the ball they’re going to be awfully tough (in the WCAC tournament).”

Gonzaga shot 64.5% and had four players in double figures, with Jim McPhee adding 32 to Spradley’s career-high 40.

However, for the second straight night--Kimble’s first starts since knee surgery in December--Loyola shot better than 50% (55.2). In support of Kimble and Gathers, who were a combined 32 for 47, Fryer added 26.

The Lions hit 12 three-pointers and outrebounded Gonzaga, 46-36, with Gathers getting 13.