Loyola Still Needs Work

Loyola Marymount’s men’s basketball rebuilding plan appeared ahead of schedule in December. The Lions, 9-19 last season, had won six games, were over .500 and had a 15-point second-half lead over USC.

The Trojans went on a 39-9 run to end any hopes of an upset. Second-year Coach Steve Aggers didn’t figure on the impact that loss could have. The Lions won only three more games, finished the season with a 12-game losing streak and were still behind other West Coast Conference teams in terms of talent.

“Eighteen months ago, we inherited a program that was 2-26,” Aggers said. “In your first year when you have a job, there’s a lot of excitement around the change. Anything you do is a positive.”

Aggers said the team didn’t quit on him.

“We never could regain the form we showed in December,” he said. “As a result, our kids just lost confidence.... This group of kids battled and fought and competed all season. We played the No. 6 team in the country [Gonzaga] to a six-point game in the middle of the second half.”

*

Cal State San Bernardino reached the final eight of the Division II men’s basketball tournament for the second time in school history after defeating Humboldt State, 80-65, Saturday in the West Regional final. Glenn Summerall’s 24-point performance earned him regional MVP honors. The Coyotes (28-1), who are ranked third in the nation, will face Metro State of Denver in the national quarterfinals March 20 at Evansville, Ind. The matchup features two coaches, San Bernardino’s Larry Reynolds and Metro State’s Mike Dunlap, who reportedly are the favorites for the Long Beach State job.

*

Defending Division II women’s champion Cal Poly Pomona has advanced to the final eight for the second consecutive year. Leah Whatley’s two free throws with two seconds left against Western Washington gave the Broncos a 71-70 win in the West Regional final. Pomona will play Mars Hill (N.C.) in the quarterfinals March 20 at Rochester, Minn.

*

Biola, Azusa Pacific and Westmont begin play in the NAIA men’s national tournament this week at Kansas City, Mo. Biola (28-4) is seeded third and plays Barber-Scotia (N.C.) Thursday. Azusa Pacific (25-7) plays Spalding (Ky.) on Thursday, and unseeded Westmont (20-9) faces Southern Polytechnic (Ga.) on Wednesday.

Eric Stephens

*

Cal State Long Beach (10-6) begins its Big West Conference baseball schedule Thursday with a three-game series against UC Riverside (15-7) after moving into Baseball America’s top 25 with a three-game sweep of Arizona. Coach Mike Weathers, who succeeded Dave Snow this season, has guided Long Beach to series victories against USC, California, Arkansas and Arizona. The 49ers have relied on a pitching staff that boasts a 2.95 earned-run average.

Abe Alvarez is 4-0 with a 1.42 ERA after combining with Neil Jamison and Chris Demaria in a 4-0 shutout of Arizona on Friday. Alvarez struck out 13 in seven innings as the 49ers tied a school record with 17 strikeouts. Outfielder Jeremy Reed had a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning for a 7-6 victory on Saturday, and Jered Weaver pitched 62/3 innings of no-hit ball in a 6-0 victory Sunday.

No. 16 Fullerton (11-8), which lost two of three at No. 7 Wichita State, opens Big West play at Nevada. UC Irvine (13-12), which lost two of three against San Diego State, plays a nonconference series this weekend against California. Cal State Northridge (16-7) won two of three against UCLA.

Gary Klein

*

A field of 36 candidates for the Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball coaching job has been pared to five: Northridge interim coach Susie Terrusa, Cal State Los Angeles women’s Coach Bill Lawler, Cal State Bakersfield women’s Coach John Price, Pepperdine men’s assistant Jeff Stork and Western Carolina women’s Coach Michelle Hansen. Price is the former Northridge men’s coach who left the program after it was cut for a brief time in 1997. Final interviews are scheduled for Wednesday, with a recommendation for hire expected to be made to Athletic Director Dick Dull by Friday.

Lauren Peterson