Loyola Notches Overtime Upset

The way Haywood Eaddy looks at it, he had to take the winning shot.

Loyola Marymount’s 5-foot-4 point guard made a three-pointer with 20 seconds left in overtime as the Lions upset Portland State, 88-84, Tuesday night at Gersten Pavilion in front of an announced 437.

Eaddy, who finished with a game-high 22 points, ran down the shot-clock to 10 and the game clock to 20 before driving toward the top of the key and popping up for a three-point goal.

“Before we took the ball out of bounds I knew I was going to take [the shot],” Eaddy said. “[Portland State guard Wayne Rhymes] started to back up because he thought I was going to drive--I could see it in his eyes--so I kind of had to shoot the three when he did that. “I’ll be the goat or the hero, but I want the big shot.”

Eaddy’s shot gave the Lions an 86-83 lead.

The Lions were expected to be led by senior forwards Kenny Hotopp and Ben Ammerman, who have played well, but Eaddy has emerged as a team leader.

“I told them that we have got to stay with it,” Loyola Marymount Coach Charles Bradley said. “We got complacent like young teams will. But, as always, [Eaddy] gave us a spark.”

Except that this time the Lions were able to finish what they sparked.

Loyola Marymount had made late comebacks against Nevada Las Vegas, USC, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Fullerton and Oregon that all fell short.

The Lions, which improved to 2-6, trailed Portland State (5-2) by as many as 12 points early in the second half before starting their improbable comeback.