Lions Roar Back to Top Trojans : College basketball: Loyola’s 13-0 run in the last 2:08 too much for USC, 86-83.

Jimmy Williamson scored seven points in the final 90 seconds, including a scooping layup with 16 seconds remaining, to give Loyola Marymount a dramatic 86-83 victory over USC on Monday night at Loyola’s Gersten Pavilion.

With 2:08 left, Loyola’s chances for victory seemed slim, as the Lions trailed, 83-73, with their top scorer and rebounder, Ime Oduok, on the bench with five fouls.

That’s when the Lions got aggressive with a full-court press and outscored the Trojans, 13-0, over the final two minutes before a raucous crowd of 3,226.

“We just played our heart out over the last 2 1/2 minutes,” Loyola Coach John Olive said. “I thought the crowd was really effective in that their noise helped create some turnovers for us down the stretch.”

The crowd may have played a role in Loyola’s comeback, but USC’s poor play really was the difference as the Trojans (2-1) committed three costly turnovers, twice missed the first of one-and-one free throws, and missed two off-balance shots in the final two minutes.

“We just had a total breakdown,” said USC guard Stais Boseman, who made four three-point baskets and scored 21 points in the second half, but missed a jump shot from near the top of the key with four seconds remaining and Loyola ahead, 84-83.

“This is our biggest win because of the way we won it,” said Williamson, who finished with 17 points and nine assists. “None of us on the team has ever came back and won a game like this at home. We just were able to execute to perfection when we needed to.”

Loyola’s Mike O’Quinn, who scored 10 points in 15 second-half minutes despite playing with a heavily bandaged broken right hand, started the rally with an inside layup with 2:01 remaining.

After a missed foul shot by USC’s Cameron Murray, Williamson made a free throw but missed the second with the Lions (4-1) getting one of their 52 rebounds, compared to USC’s 24.

Ben Ammerman, who had a career-high 18 points and nine rebounds, then scored on a layup to cut USC’s lead to 83-78 with 1:15 remaining. USC’s Jaha Wilson then turned the ball over to set up two more foul shots by Williamson with 1:02 remaining.

Avondre Jones turned the ball over again and Williamson capitalized with two more foul shots to cut the Trojans’ lead to 83-82 with 57 seconds left.

USC finally was able to run time down before Murray missed a driving bank shot in the lane. In transition, Williamson drove the length of the court to make a scoop layup around Jones to give Loyola a 84-83 lead.

“The shot was not by design, but as I was driving, Vonnie surprised me by jumping out and that forced me to scoop it,” Williamson said.

With 12.2 seconds remaining, USC set up a play for Boseman, who settled for his last jump shot after making 10 of his first 16 attempts.

“We just felt that they would lay down for us and just give us the game,” USC Coach Charlie Parker said. “We found out that we have to play 40 minutes and not just 39 or 38 1/2.”

O’Quinn, who averaged 13 points and 4.6 rebounds last season, sat out the first three games of the season before returning in Loyola’s victory over Nevada Las Vegas. Against USC, however, O’Quinn’s heavily bandaged hand limited him to only 10 minutes and zero points in the first half.

Behind the strong inside play of Oduok, who had 11 points and seven rebounds in the first half, Loyola ran out to an early 13-7 lead. Playing before their largest and loudest crowd of the season, the Lions’ inspired defense forced USC into several bad perimeter shots before Brandon Martin (14 points) began to find his range.

Oduok led Loyola with 22 points and nine rebounds in 32 minutes. Wilson and Jones had 12 each for USC.

USC plays Houston at the Sports Arena on Wednesday. Loyola plays host to UC Santa Barbara on Saturday.