Loyola Leaves Frustrated in 88-84 Defeat

It has become a familiar and frustrating scenario for the Loyola Marymount basketball team.

Lions fall behind.

Lions catch up.

Lions fall short.

San Diego State fought off Loyola’s comeback effort Thursday night, making all six of its free throws in overtime, including four in the final 1:09, to come away with a 88-84 nonconference victory at Gersten Pavilion.

Loyola (0-7), losing its 17th consecutive game, used a full-court press to rally from a 65-52 deficit with less than nine minutes to play in regulation. But the Lions were hurt by poor rebounding down the stretch.

After reserve guard Ross Richardson made a jump shot to give Loyola an 80-79 lead with 17 seconds left, San Diego State’s Derric Croft missed a jumper from the top of the key. Aztec forward Matt Ambrose rebounded the ball and was fouled while shooting. He made one of two free throws to the tie the game, 80-80, with six seconds left, sending it into overtime.

San Diego State (5-2) blew a chance to win in regulation when Carlus Groves missed an uncontested layup after rebounding Ambrose’s missed second free throw.

Groves, a senior transfer from Tennessee playing in only his second game for San Diego State, led all scorers with 26 points.

Center Wyking Jones led Loyola with 25 points.