Loyola 2-0, Running Out of Players : College basketball: Lions defeat Seattle, 70-55, but Hotopp suffers a severely sprained ankle.

Loyola Marymount is 2-0 after defeating Seattle, 70-55, Sunday at Gersten Pavilion before an announced 1,098, but the Lions are as concerned with counting injuries as counting victories.

Sophomore forward Kenny Hotopp severely sprained his right ankle early in the second half to join a growing list of sidelined players. Hotopp was the game’s leading scorer at the time of the injury with 14 points on seven-of- eight shooting.

John Anthony, a junior forward, did not play because he aggravated a chronic knee injury Friday against Sonoma State. Starting forward Mike O’Quinn is out for another week because of a broken hand and suspended guard Terryl Woolery will sit out seven more games for breaking team rules.

“What more could go wrong?” Loyola Coach John Olive said.

Eye gash or no eye gash, Lion point guard Jim Williamson looked around the floor at the patchwork lineup in the second half and decided to take over. Williamson had a team-high 17 points and six assists, including 12 points in the second half.

Loyola Marymount led, 39-37, at halftime and did not pull away until consecutive steals by Williamson produced a 62-51 lead with four minutes to play.

“At one point I was out there with three freshmen and a sophomore,” said Williamson, a junior. “I felt it was upon me to run the show.”

The injuries have afforded playing time to several young players, but the Lions’ schedule offers no more opponents such as Division II Sonoma State or Seattle (1-5), a mediocre NAIA team that made 20 of 70 shots from the field.

Forward Justin White was the Chieftains’ lone scoring threat. The 6-foot-5 senior had a game-high 18 points, but scored only four in the second half when Seattle was held to 18 points.

“Our defense shaped up again in the second half,” said Olive, noting his team had held Sonoma State to 25 second-half points.

Seattle was unable to capitalize on several stretches of poor play by Loyola, which committed 20 turnovers. The Lions made 22 of 51 shots from the field and only 23 of 38 free throws. Forward Will Jones missed all eight of his free throws.

“We scheduled these [first two] games to get our young kids some experience under their belt,” Olive said. “Now we move on.”