SOUTHLAND

Loyola Marymount 95, Cal State Sacramento 77-- The Lions’ victory at Gersten Pavilion was a benchmark in more ways than one.

Thanks to another spirited performance by its bench, Loyola has a three-game winning streak for the first time since January 1999.

Reserve guards Kent Dennis, Robert Davis and Charles Brown helped the Lions (5-3) withstand a sluggish first half and, after some halftime adjustments, pull away down the stretch.

Dennis, a former standout at Reseda Cleveland High, scored 18 points, including 12 in the first half on four-for-five three-point shooting. His consecutive three-pointers gave Loyola the lead for good, 27-23, with 7:36 left in the first half, after it trailed by as many as six in the early going.

“Getting a couple of timely threes was really huge,” Lion Coach Steve Aggers said.

The 6-foot-2 Davis provided another spark, grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds and scoring 10 points.

Although Brown missed his four field-goal attempts, the freshman was a steadying influence at point guard, especially after starter Eurskine Robinson left with 8:09 to play after spraining his left ankle. Loyola also lost its other starting guard, Marcus Smith, to a sprained ankle in the first half.

By making his six free throws, Robinson set the Loyola record for consecutive free throws at 35, breaking the mark of 32 set by Terrell Lowery in 1990. Robinson has made his 30 free throws this season.

Freshman forward Andy Osborn led five Lions in double figures with 19 points.

Reserve forward David Joiner had 23 points and eight rebounds for Sacramento (3-5), which had a two-game winning streak ended.