Loyola Can’t Sustain Intensity and Loses

If it wasn’t apparent in the first half Saturday night, it was painfully so in the second for Loyola Marymount--the night before had taken its toll.

Going up against St. Mary’s a day after an intense, hard-fought victory over Santa Clara, the Lions seemed to be merely going through the motions.

And the Gaels, who trailed by two points at halftime, took advantage in the second half by beating the Lions to the ball, getting open shots and pulling away to a 76-64 West Coast Conference victory before 2,316.

St. Mary’s, 9-7 overall and 2-2 in the WCC, hit the Lions where they had been most successful defensively--from the outside.

Five different players made seven three-pointers in the second half as the Gaels--also getting production on the inside from center Jumoke Horton--methodically opened a 63-52 lead with 4:11 to play.

The Lions (11-5, 2-2) were unable to get closer than eight the rest of the way.

“St. Mary’s played with a lot more energy and desire--I was very disappointed with our effort,” Lion Coach John Olive said. “Playing the night before is no excuse. As athletes they have to come ready to play no matter what the situation.”

Horton, who made all eight of his free throws, scored 22 points. Guard Kamran Sufi had a career-high 12 assists. Guard David Sivulich, meanwhile, added 15 points, nine from three-point range. St. Mary’s shot a season-high 60.4%.