PHOTO COURTESY LMU LIONS
Whether because of good defense or bad shooting, Loyola Marymount University’s men's basketball team suffered its second loss of the season Dec. 22, 60-53 at UC Riverside.
The Lions (11-2) battled back from an early 10-point deficit to forge a 31-31 halftime tie, and were still tied at 49 late in the game until the Highlanders took control. For the game, LMU was just 3 of 16 from three-point range and 10 of 20 from the foul line, with Dameane Douglas the high-point man with 12.
Three days earlier at Gersten Pavilion, LMU won a 70-69 thriller over Boise State when James Batemon took an inbounds pass with seven seconds left and went ther length of the floor for the game-winning layup. The Lions — who lost an 11-point halftime lead before pulling it out — were led by Batemon’s 30 points, with Joe Quintana adding 17.
LMU hosts UC Davis Dec. 28 before opening West Coast Conference play on Jan. 3 at Pepperdine.
After a rough go in the Caribbean, Loyola Marymount University women's basketball team (7-5) opens WCC play at home Dec. 29 and 31 against Gonzaga and Portland.
The Lions went 0-3 in the Puerto Rico Classic Dec. 19-21, suffering two blowout losses to Indiana (67-43) and South Dakota (67-60) before being edged 62-61 by Grambling despite 20 points from Gabby Green and 13 by Jasmine Jones.
Against the Tigers, LMU fought back from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit and held a late lead until Grambling went ahead with seconds to play. A last-second three-point attempt by Chelsey Gibson (returning to action after missing several games with a concussion) fell short.
Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).
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