Loyola Beaten by Santa Clara in WCC Opener

Loyola Marymount lost its West Coast Conference opener Friday night, falling to Santa Clara, 97-83, in Gersten Pavilion.

The Lions had no apparent home-court advantage, being called for 32 fouls to the Broncos’ 21, giving the visitors a 50-31 advantage in free-throw attempts. The Broncos made 35 to Loyola’s 23. And Santa Clara controlled play the second half, holding the Lions to 36 points and 10 field goals.

Bronco forward Rhea Taylor, known for second-half surges, scored 22 of his game-high 29 points to lead the Bronco comeback. Terrell Lowery led Loyola with 23 points but scored only eight after halftime.

Center Ron Reis added 23 points for Santa Clara. Loyola center Richard Petruska finished with 18.

The loss dropped the Lions to 6-9 overall and 0-1. Santa Clara improved to 11-5 and 2-0.

It was the Lions’ lowest point total against a conference opponent in nearly two years--since the Broncos held them to 75 in the conference tournament in 1989. It was also their first WCC loss at Gersten Pavilion since February, 1989, when St. Mary’s won, 116-104.

The Lions controlled play most of the first half, never trailing while building leads that reached 10 points (36-26). Santa Clara pulled to within 40-38 with 2:07 left in the half, but in the final minute, Lowery scored two baskets and made a steal that led to another.

Lowery’s long three-pointer before the buzzer led to a 47-39 lead at the half. The Broncos managed only 11 field goals in the half.

Loyola built the lead to 10 again early in the second half, but Santa Clara dictated the pace the rest of the way, making Loyola play a half-court game and tying the score, 62-62, on Taylor’s three-point play with 13:06 to play. The Broncos then stretched the lead to its final margin, mostly on free throws.