USD Enjoys an Easy Time for a Change, 87-60

SAN DIEGO —  Loyola Marymount Coach Paul Westhead was in San Diego Saturday night to see one of his team’s West Coast Athletic Conference rivals, the University of San Diego.

Westhead saw USD (7-3) put together an impressive performance from beginning to end Saturday, beating Loyola (Md.), 87-60, in the USD Sports Center.

Westhead’s only possible solace may be that Loyola Marymount plays Loyola (Md.) Monday night.

But if USD can play in the conference as well as it did Saturday, Westhead and the other WCAC coaches may be in trouble.

The Toreros shot 73% from the field in the first half (22 of 30) to take a 52-23 lead. They hit 6 of 9 from three-point range.

With the outside shots going in, the lane was wide open for forward Nils Madden. He had 16 points by halftime, one short of his season high. Madden finished with a season-high 22 points.

“The most important thing about this game is that it’s a win,” USD Coach Hank Egan said. “I know that’s not really news but a win like this gives our kids a lot of confidence.”

Marty Munn, a USD reserve with a good shot, may have received the biggest confidence boost. Munn was not used in USD’s victory over Rice Tuesday night, but came in midway through the first half Saturday and hit four straight jumpers. “Coach (Egan) told me he should have got me in the other night but it didn’t work out,” Munn said. “I was just anxious to get another day of practice so I could earn some more playing time. My shot’s been feeling real good.”

The same could be said for point guard Paul Leonard, who hit all four of his shots in the first half, two from three-point range.

Egan had been worried about his team’s recent failure to play well in the second half. Against Rice, USD nearly lost an 18-point halftime lead, hanging on to win, 48-47.

There were no such problems Saturday as USD’s big lead stood up.

“When you play a great first half and the other team doesn’t, you have to expect that your lead is going to slip a little bit,” Egan said. “But he have to learn not to panic when it does slip. We did a better job (Saturday.)”