Loyola Marymount Wins Eighth in Row

Loyola Marymount won its eighth consecutive game and moved above .500 for the first time this season by beating Gonzaga Saturday night, 86-76.

Closing out their home schedule before 2,253, the Lions improved to 14-13 overall, 7-5 in the West Coast Conference. Gonzaga fell to 12-13 and 3-9.

Terrell Lowery scored 41 points to lead the Lions, who struggled until the 5:03 mark, when Gonzaga Coach Dan Fitzgerald was assessed a technical foul with the score 70-70.

Lowery made both free throws, John O’Connell then made a baseline jumper and Lowery made his fifth three-point basket after a steal by Tom Peabody to fuel a 14-2 run in three minutes that put the game out of reach.

The Lions led at halftime, 40-37, and opened a seven-point lead early in the second half. But Gonzaga went on a 13-5 run to take a 52-51 lead and the two then traded leads 11 times and were tied twice before the technical foul, which was called when Fitzgerald stormed off the bench and slammed a towel to the floor after he thought a foul should have been called against Loyola.

“The technical came at a real crucial point,” Loyola Coach Jay Hillock said. “We’d started to grab (control), but that sure helped.”

On a night they struggled, the Lions were happy for any edge. “We struggled and won,” Hillock said. “The games this weekend we were a little stagnant and didn’t get it in our pace. We didn’t have the energy and quickness we’ve exhibited lately.”

While scoring 40 or more points for the fifth time this season, Lowery missed a triple double by one assist. He also had 10 rebounds.