Romar Tries to Deal With Latest Loss

MALIBU — It will take several days before Pepperdine men’s basketball Coach Lorenzo Romar gets the disappointment of Saturday night’s 64-60 loss to Loyola Marymount out of his mind.

“You’re thinking 3-1, first place, winning streak, all of those things,” Romar said. “To lose it at home like that, it hurts.”

Pepperdine (4-12, 2-2 in the West Coast Conference) missed a chance to accomplish those goals after Loyola rallied in the last seven minutes behind point guard Jim Williamson to post its first road victory of the season before 2,473 at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Williamson, the smallest player on the court at 5 feet 10, scored 15 of his 22 points in the second half and forced Pepperdine into a critical turnover in the final minute.

Loyola (5-11, 2-2), which led, 63-60, after two free throws by Tim Kennedy with 26 seconds left, snuffed the Waves’ last chance when Williamson tied up center Bryan Hill, who couldn’t handle a pass in the key from Tezale Archie. The alternating possession went to the Lions, leading to a free throw by Kennedy with 12 seconds left.

“Our inability to hold onto the lead was the key,” said Romar, whose team won at Loyola, 59-52, Wednesday and was looking for its first back-to-back victories of the season. “[Loyola] executed their offense well and Jimmy Williamson did a great job in the second half.”

And, Romar added, 19 turnovers “came back to haunt us.”

The lead changed hands six times in the second half, the last time on the game’s most memorable shot. Williamson, driving to the right of the lane, put up a one-handed hook over the 6-8 Hill that banked in for a 54-53 Loyola lead with six minutes left.

“If a guy is going to hit those shots, what are you going to do?” Romar said.

Williamson received support down the stretch from center Kenny Hotopp, who scored six of his 12 points in the last 6:32. Kennedy scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half.

A layup by Hotopp completed a 10-2 run and gave the Lions a 60-55 lead with four minutes left. Archie, who led Pepperdine with 15 points, answered with a three-point play, and the Waves pulled to within 61-60 on a short basket by Hill with 51 seconds left.

Williamson then missed a jump shot , but Hill and teammate Marc McDowell knocked the ball out of bounds going for the rebound. Tommie Prince used his last foul on Kennedy, who made both ends of a one-and-one situation.

McDowell had 13 points and Hill added 12, all in the second half.