St. Bonaventure stops Loyola Marymount

Michael Lee scored 13 of his 22 points in the second half and finished with 14 rebounds, leading St. Bonaventure to a 61-50 victory over Loyola Marymount on Friday night at Albuquerque.

Point guard Zarryon Fereti had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Bonnies (2-1) in the first game at the Basketball Travelers Invitational.

Fereti scored six points in the closing minutes, after the Lions (0-3) took a 48-46 lead with 6:07 remaining after a basket by Marko Deric.

Loyola Marymount trailed, 54-50, after a free throw by Jon Ziri with 1:42 remaining but was forced to foul and St. Bonaventure made seven of eight free throws down the stretch.

The Lions were called three times for charging in the final minute.

Freshman Tim Diederichs led Loyola Marymount with 14 points and Deric scored 12. The Lions play Presbyterian today.

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Billy Gillispie still hasn’t signed a formal contract more than seven months after agreeing to become Kentucky’s basketball coach.

Gillispie remains employed under a two-page memorandum of understanding that details his compensation package, Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart said.

Barnhart didn’t say what had delayed negotiations. Gillispie doesn’t have an agent and declined to discuss the matter during preseason news conferences, saying lawyers were working out the details.