Loyola Skid Hits Eight

Through the first 20 minutes Tuesday night, it looked as if the long losing streak would end for the Loyola Marymount men’s basketball team.

But the combination of horrific shooting, nearly non-existent perimeter defense and Dartmouth’s hot hand from long range turned a five-point halftime lead by the Lions into an 89-67 defeat against the Big Green before 580 at Gersten Pavilion, extending Loyola’s losing streak to eight games.

Dartmouth guard Greg Buth, the nation’s leading three-point shooter last season, made all seven of his three-point shots in the second half, most of them without being guarded. He finished with a school-record eight three-point baskets in scoring a game-high 29 points. The Big Green’s 14 three-point basketswere also a team record.

The Lions (1-8) started out well, outshooting the Big Green, 40% to 37% and outrebounding Dartmouth, 23-13, at halftime. Loyola Marymount carried a 35-30 lead into the locker room.

But Dartmouth (4-5) got repeated open looks and transition baskets off turnovers to start the second half. In less than 90 seconds the Big Green had the lead. In less than six minutes the lead was 11. A three-point basket by Buth, who had three points at halftime, made it 62-41 with 9:10 left.

In less than 11 minutes, the Lions were outscored by 26.

“In the first half we played well, with some aggressiveness,” Lion Coach Charles Bradley said. “We came out in the second half with no fire and no aggressiveness.”

The inability to make the jump shot killed the Lions again.

Shooting 34.8% from the field entering the game, Loyola Marymount looked to get it inside to center Pablo Machado early. But the Dartmouth defense smothered him, sometimes triple-teaming him, forcing the other Lions to make jumpers. They didn’t do it, shooting 35.8%.

The losing streak is the Lions’ longest in a season since they dropped nine in a row to start the 1993-94 season. And the Lions have not defeated a Division I opponent since defeating Portland on Feb. 19.