Loyola Basketball Team Plays Host to Czech Squad

The Loyola Marymount basketball team will end its exhibition schedule at 7:30 tonight against Trencin Czechoslovakia at Gersten Pavilion.

The Lions played poorly in their first exhibition Sunday, a 130-107 defeat by the Lafayette Hustlers, an Amateur Athletic Union touring team. Loyola made only 40 of 100 field goals and committed 29 turnovers.

Coach Jay Hillock also complained that the Lions, who rely on a run-and-gun style of play, tired as the game progressed.

“We found out that we are not in real good physical condition,” he said. “Fatigue set in.”

Loyola is hoping for a better effort against Trencin Czechoslovakia, which lost to UCLA, 112-50, Tuesday and to USC, 102-56, Monday. Ivan Mikusovic led the Czechoslovaks against UCLA with 24 points.

Loyola senior guard Terrell Lowery scored a game-high 30 points against the Lafayette Hustlers, and junior forward Brian McCloskey added 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

The Lions open the season Nov. 22 against Morgan State in the first L.A. Classic at Gersten Pavilion. Washington State and Central Connecticut State complete the field.

Loyola announced Thursday that all of its games will be broadcast live on KBLA radio (1580 AM). The agreement marks the return of Loyola basketball to commercial radio for the first time since the 1981-82 season. Loyola campus station KXLU (88.9 FM), which has broadcast Loyola games for the past three decades, will continue to have broadcast rights.