Smith Leads Loyola’s Surge in WCC Win Over Portland

Junior guard Marcus Smith matched a career high with 18 points to lead Loyola Marymount to an 81-69 West Coast Conference victory over Portland Friday night at Gersten Pavilion.

Smith scored 14 points in the second half to help the Lions, 7-13 overall, move into a fourth-place tie in the WCC with San Diego at 3-4. They went on an 8-0 run at the 13:51 mark, led by Philipp Czernin’s layup that put Loyola ahead for good, 54-45.

Czernin finished with 13 points and Pablo Machado added 12.

“Marcus played really well tonight,” Loyola Coach Steve Aggers said. “He was outstanding defensively, completely shutting down their leading scorer [Ryan Jones]. In the process, he scores 18 for us.”

Portland (9-11, 2-5) led, 32-30, at the half, led by Adam Quick’s three three-point baskets. Quick finished with 14 points. Tim Frost had 15 points and Travis Andrews 12 for the Pilots.

Loyola shot 87.5% from the free-throw line, making 14 of 16 with Smith and Eurskine Robinson making four of four in the final minutes.

“We suffered some heartbreaking losses earlier in the season,” Aggers said. “However, we told our players that if we continued to work, we could become a good basketball team.”

Smith, who has been one of the Lions’ top players in conference, had 18 points last week against St. Mary’s. The Lions play conference-leading Gonzaga tonight. Portland plays at Pepperdine.