SOUTHLAND MEN’S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

Santa Clara 78, Loyola Marymount 70--Playing for the first time on consecutive nights, Loyola Marymount showed the ill effects late in the second half as Santa Clara fended off the Lions for the WCC victory before 1,494 at Gersten Pavilion.

The Broncos used a key 12-4 run to break a 55-55 tie and held Loyola (5-10, 1-1) without a field goal for over four minutes to decide the outcome. The Lions cut the lead to one point seven times but never jumped ahead.

“They’re basketball team is an outstanding defensive team,” Loyola Coach Steve Aggers said of the Broncos. “They were stronger, bigger, tougher, meaner than we were tonight.”

Steve Ross scored 17 of his career-high 22 points in the second half and added 11 rebounds to lead Santa Clara (9-8, 1-1). Reserve Kyle Bailey tied a season-high with 17 points.

It was Ross’ three-pointer with 5:52 remaining that gave the Broncos the lead for good. Santa Clara made 26 of 31 free throws to keep the Lions at bay.

Elton Mashack had 19 points and Marcus Smith added 17 for Loyola. Forward Greg Lakey struggled for the third consecutive game and had four points.

“I thought in the last 12 minutes, they were a little bit fresher because of the depth situation,” Aggers said. “In this league, you’ve got to learn to play back-to-back nights.”