Rebounding Keys Lions’ Win in WCC Tournament Opener

For much of the season, the Loyola Marymount basketball team has won despite some startling rebounding deficits.

But in the opening round of the West Coast Conference Tournament on Saturday at Gersten Pavilion, the Lions were the bullies on the boards, and it resulted in an easy 121-84 victory over Gonzaga.

In advancing to today’s semifinals starting at 5, the Lions set a tournament record for rebounds with 66. Despite an off night shooting from outside, the Lions got 27 offensive rebounds to dominate inside.

Lions forward Per Stumer led both teams with 12 rebounds, and Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble got 11 apiece.

Loyola Coach Paul Westhead noted afterward: “The insurance policy we can take out on advancing is to be committed to the boards. We have not been that strong in that area, and this was a new dimension for us.”

Gathers, who led the nation in rebounding last season and is among the leaders again, said that at practice Friday, “Coach told everybody when I’m rebounding strong, everyone usually follows me. So if we’re not rebounding, it’s usually my fault. This is bread-and-butter time, so I knew we’d come out strong.”

The Lions jumped out to a quick 27-11 lead, hit a lull as Gonzaga pulled to within 10, then put the game away with a 12-0 run. Despite hitting only one of nine three-point attempts in the first half, Loyola still had a 59-33 halftime lead thanks to a 35-20 rebounding edge and 17 turnovers forced by Loyola’s active press. The final total of 121 was another tournament record.

Loyola shot 50% for the game, while Gonzaga managed only 43%. Gonzaga Coach Dan Fitzgerald said, “We really turned it over; we didn’t handle (the press) well at all. To have a chance, you have to hit a lot of good shots against them and we did not.”