Loyola Spoils the Nash Show

There were more than a dozen NBA scouts in attendance Friday night at Gersten Pavilion--all of them there primarily to check out Santa Clara guard Steve Nash.

What they saw, however, was Loyola Marymount use an assortment of players who effectively frustrated Nash and the rest of the Bronco offense en route to a 71-62 West Coast Conference victory before 3,812.

The Lions, 11-4 overall and 2-1 in the WCC, took their first lead midway through the first half and never relinquished it. They opened a 27-19 halftime lead and, with a balanced offensive attack, led by at least five points the rest of the way.

“I didn’t sense that anyone really cared about the presence of all the scouts,” Lion Coach John Olive said, when asked if it might have inspired his team. “It was the game that got us going--the opponent.”

The victory ended a five-game home losing streak to Santa Clara (11-4, 2-1), which has all five starters from last season. It was also the Lions’ second in a row over the Broncos--they posted an 87-83 victory in the first round of the WCC tournament last season at Santa Clara.

Nash, a 6-foot-3 senior who many feel will be a first-round draft choice, scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half, but most came in the final minutes as he tried to get his team back in the game. He was six for 14 from the field and threw up two air balls from behind the three-point line in the final 1:12.

Rather than cover Nash with his counterpart at point guard, 5-9 Jim Williamson, Olive went to his taller guards, primarily 6-4 Terryl Woolery and 6-5 Mike O’Quinn.

Forward Kenny Hotopp had 14 points and nine rebounds to lead the Lions, who shot 50% from the field. Williamson and O’Quinn scored 13 points apiece and forward Ben Ammerman added 11 points for the Lions, who play host to St. Mary’s tonight at 7, minus a dozen or so scouts.