The Steve Aggers' era of Loyola Marymount University men's basketball achieved a big step. A win. The Lions defeated Team Concept 86-77 in its first of two exhibition games this early 2000-01 basketball season.
Coming off a 2-26 record from 1999-2000, the first year head coach will take a win any way they can.
We broke the losing streak. We got some demons off our back. It is very important for our young team to get their confidence back, said Aggers. We played very hard, and we played a team with former NCAA Division I players. A win is a win for us.
In the win the Lions got a solid start from senior Elton Mashack, who as one of two seniors on a young squad will be asked to step up this season, scored 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting. He added eight rebounds and a steal. Junior Philipp Czernin, who sat out last season after transferring from Hawai'i, was glad to be back on the court as he scored 21 points and finished the game a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line.
We really played in spurts tonight, said Aggers. Our free throwing shooting suffered in the first half, but really improved in the second. The Lions finished the game shooting 80 percent (28-35) from the charity stripe, 92 percent (13-14) in the second half. In 1999-2000 the Lions shot 67 percent from the free throw line.
Junior college transfer Eurskine Robinson finished the game with 13 points and five assists. Senior Pablo Machado started his final season with six points and 10 rebounds. The Lions, who were out rebounded by Team Concept by one at halftime, finished the game out rebounding the team from Vancouver, Wash., by 11.
We rebounded much better in the second half, said Aggers. We learned a lot of things tonight.
Team Concept was led by LMU graduate Greg Walker with 17 points and four assists. Walker graduated in 1993.
The Lions will play their final exhibition on Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at Gersetn Pavilion against Son's Blue Angels before starting their regular season on Nov. 17 against Vanguard University at 7:05 p.m. at the Pavilion.
-GO LIONS-
