Lions Win Game and Also Fall 48 Points Short : Loyola Marymount: In a match projected to bring first-ever 200-point performance, USIU makes it 152-137 struggle

U.S. International University, college basketball’s favorite punching bag, decided to fight back Thursday night, hanging even with Loyola Marymount for 30 minutes before falling, 152-137, in front of 1,264 in Golden Hall.

USIU, playing some of the heavy hitters of the NCAA this month--the Gulls fell to Oklahoma, 173-101, last week and play at Arkansas next--fell to 2-5. But they had a 94-92 lead midway through the second half before Loyola turned it up a notch.

The Lions (4-1) eventually pulled away with a 58-43 burst in the final 12:35, withstanding a school-record, 54-point barrage by USIU guard Kevin Bradshaw.

This game had been billed as Loyola’s shot at college’s first 200-point game. The marquee here even predicted: “History in the Making.” But USIU was the team that looked hungry when the game began.

The Lions needed 37 points and 27 rebounds from Hank Gathers and five other players in double figures to win their fourth in a row. Bradshaw, who hit 20 of 37 shots, was supported by Demetrius Laffitte with 25 points and Steve Smith with 23.

“I think (a record) was on our mind, but my guys didn’t really have that 200 look on their faces,” Gathers said. “USIU did a good job of smacking us and making us wake up.”

The Lions led by as many as 10 points early, but USIU, thanks to second efforts and numerous Loyola turnovers, went on a 31-19 run to take a 55-53 lead with 4:47 left in the half. The Gulls forced 14 Loyola turnovers in the half.

Loyola, with Gathers controlling the boards, forged an 11-3 run to build a 64-58 lead, but couldn’t put the Gulls away in the half. USIU pulled to within one point twice in the closing seconds and trailed by only 75-72 at halftime.

Loyola’s slim lead was due mostly to the work of Gathers, who had 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Per Stumer with 14 points. Bradshaw had 20 in the first half.

The pattern continued into the second half, with USIU starting fast and taking leads of five points behind Bradshaw’s three-point shooting. Loyola finally caught up at 90-90 with 14:05 left but didn’t take the lead for good until the 10-minute mark. The fast break suddenly kicked in and the Lions ran off a 24-4 surge and built a double-figure lead. This time, USIU didn’t have an answer.

Bo Kimble added 27 for the Lions, and guard Terrell Lowery had a career-high 24.

Loyola and USIU played the highest-scoring game in college history in January, 181-150. Thursday night’s 152-137 was the fourth-highest combined total in NCAA history, but Loyola Coach Paul Westhead said he wasn’t shooting for records Thursday.