Davis Giving Loyola a Lift

Moving from starter to reserve seems to have been best for Robert Davis--and the Loyola Marymount men’s basketball team.

Davis, a senior guard, has averaged a team-high 14.5 points, and 5.3 rebounds, in his four games as the Lions’ sixth man. He had 18 points Saturday in a two-point loss to Nevada Las Vegas, Loyola Marymount’s first defeat with Davis coming off the bench.

Lion Coach Steve Aggers said Davis has flourished in a reserve role because he maintained a good attitude.

“Robert’s really an unselfish player, and he’s a senior leader,” Aggers said. “He understood that this was the best thing for the team. I think what’s important is it’s been the best thing for him too. He’s playing the best basketball in his career here.”

Loyola’s reserves have been a major factor in the Lions’ 5-4 start--they didn’t win their fifth game until Jan. 12 last season. The Lions’ bench has contributed 26.6 of the team’s 72.2-point scoring average.

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UC Irvine fell one field goal short of joining the list of local men’s basketball teams that recently have enjoyed beating UCLA at Pauley Pavilion.

But the fact the Anteaters came close hasn’t left Irvine Coach Pat Douglass talking about moral victories or silver linings.

“I think people are pretty aware that we have good players, and we’re a pretty good team,” Douglass said.

Irvine can blame its 22 turnovers for the loss--a statistic Douglass attributed to his players trying too hard. On the plus side, Jerry Green scored 27 points, and forward Stanislav Zuzak, a 6-foot-10 sophomore made eight of 12 shots and scored a career-high 22 points.

“[Zuzak’s] had some good games for us, but I don’t think he’s had one against that type of opponent,” Douglass said. “It’s going to give him confidence for the rest of the year.”

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Cal State Northridge beat UCLA and made its first NCAA tournament appearance in men’s basketball last season, but the Matadors haven’t been able to build from that success.

Northridge (1-6) is off to its worst start since 1993, having lost five a row since routing Dominican, 101-47, on Nov. 20.

Among the problems are lack of experience and poor shooting. The Matadors, with a roster of six freshmen and five junior college transfers, are shooting 39.6% from the floor and 63% from the free-throw line.

Guard Markus Carr, the only returning starter, is averaging 19.9 points a game. The rest of the Matadors have struggled on offense, and the team has been outrebounded by an average of 45-37.

“Markus has asked to carry a huge load,” Coach Bobby Braswell said. “But he’s only one guy. We’ve got to have more people step up.”

The Matadors, after five seasons in the Big Sky, play their first Big West Conference game Thursday at Utah State, the two-time defending conference champion.