Loyola Is Blocked by UCSB

Defensive-minded UC Santa Barbara figured to have a good chance of beating Loyola Marymount if it could slow down the Lions’ running game.

The Gauchos did exactly that by reducing Loyola’s fast break to a crawl for most of the game Saturday night, then withstood a late Lion rally for a 59-58 nonconference victory at Gersten Pavilion.

Santa Barbara guard Ray Kelly made a free throw with 13 seconds left to account for the final score, and Gaucho forward Doug Muse, a 6-foot-10 freshman, came up with the defensive play of the game when he blocked a jump shot by Loyola center Christian Scott, controlled the ball and was fouled with three seconds left.

“All (Scott) had to do was pump-fake the kid and (Muse) ends up in Marina del Rey,” Loyola Coach Jay Hillock said. “We rushed that.”

Loyola (3-3) made up a 14-point deficit in the final seven minutes to tie the game, 58-58, on two free throws by reserve guard Ross Richardson with 22 seconds left. Kelly was fouled the next time down court and sank one of two free throws to put Santa Barbara up by one.

Loyola point guard Tony Walker dribbled the length of the court and passed off to Scott above the free-throw line. But as Scott launched a 17-foot shot, Muse jumped out to block the ball and secure the Gaucho victory.

Forward Lucius Davis scored 17 points to help Santa Barbara improve to 5-0.

Loyola, which entered the game averaging 107.4 points, fell behind, 50-36, shortly after Santa Barbara went on a 12-0 run early in the second half.

“It was a standstill game and it hurt us,” said Hillock, whose team was held to a season-low point total. “(Santa Barbara’s) defense was very, very good--the best we’ve seen all year.”

The Lions shot 44% from the field and had only two players score in double figures--guard Terrell Lowery with 15 points and forward Rahim Harris with 10. Lowery made only five of 15 shots.

Loyola was especially cold early in the game, going more than seven minutes without a point and more than 10 minutes without a basket during one stretch of the first half. Yet it still managed to lead at halftime, 28-26.

Santa Barbara shot 35% in the first half and made only nine of 17 free throws in the first 20 minutes.