Nov. 25, 2003

Box Score

Los Angeles, CA (Nov. 25) -- Senior forward Keith Kincade scored 21 points, including 17 in the second half, as Loyola Marymount defeated Cal State Northridge 81-70 Tuesday night at Gersten Pavilion.

Kincade made 9-of-10 free-throw attempts in the final 2:17 and finished hitting a career-high 12-for-13 in the game as the Lions improved to 2-0. Sophomore guard Wes Wardrop added a career-high 16 points for LMU, going a perfect 7-for-7 at the line.

"This was not a pretty game but we did what we had to do to win the game," said Head Coach Steve Aggers. "Our clutch free throw shooting was the difference. Keith played like a senior."

LMU took its biggest lead, 16 points, on a free throw by Chris Ayer to cap a 10-3 run for a 70-54 lead with 1:57 left. Cal State Northridge (1-1) responded with a 10-2 run, capped by Davin White's three-point basket with 1:22 left to cut the lead to 72-64. But the Matadors could not get any closer, as the Lions made hit the free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

"We overcame a lot of careless turnovers," said Aggers, whose team committed 23 on the game while forcing the Matadors into 22. "Our pressure defense was solid tonight against a very athletic team. Our early mistakes will be taken care of as the season progresses."

Chris Davis scored 21 points and White added 19 for the Matadors. The Lions outrebounded Cal State Northridge 39-28, and had four players in double figures, including 10 each by Ayer and Charles Brown. Brown added six assists and equaled his career-high with 5 steals.

Cal State Northridge used a 12-0 run to take a 25-19 lead with 3:17 left in the first half. LMU responded with a 12-0 run of their own to take a 31-25 halftime lead, and led the entire second half.

"We had a solid defensive effort against a talented team. We are playing very well defensively. This time of year that is going to happen. Our offense will get there. We are playing hard and we did well on the glass, outrebounding them by 11," said Aggers.

The Lions will head to the Mohegan Sun Classic at Central Connecticut State University on Nov. 28-29. They open on Saturday against Binghamton University. The game can be heard on the Lions' Audio Network starting at 9 a.m. (PST).

- GO LIONS -