Dec. 11, 2003
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BRIEFLY
The Loyola Marymount University men's basketball team will continue to look for its best start in eight seasons when they travel to UCLA and Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. The Lions had their five-game winning streak snapped against UNLV but are still off to their best start since 1995-96.
TOUGH STRETCH
The Lions first setback of the season against UNLV was the start of a tough stretch for LMU in their non-conference schedule. As the Lions head into finals week, LMU's four opponents on this stretch will be a true test. Including UNLV (5-1), the Lions four opponents in the tough stretch have a combined record of 15-4. LMU will travel to Pauley Pavilion for the first time in five years to take on UCLA, who has a record of 2-1. The Lions will then travel to Denver on Dec. 16 to take on the Pioneers, who at 3-2 on the season have won three straight games. The tough stretch continues when the Lions take on unbeaten Virginia (5-0) on Dec. 19 at Gersten Pavilion.
THE BRUINS
UCLA is 2-1 on the season after falling to Kentucky in Wooden Classic, 52-50. The started the season with a 68-67 win over Vermont and an 84-70 victory over UC Riverside, both at Pauley Pavilion. Seven players are getting the bulk of the minutes for the Bruins, all averaging more than 16 minutes a game. Dijon Thompson leads the team with 36 minutes per game and in scoring with 16.7 per game. Four of the five starters average double figures, with Brian Morrison at 15.3 per game, Cedric Bozeman with 13.7 and Michael Fey with 11.7. In the setback to Kentucky, Bozeman played all 40 minutes and Thompson played 39 minutes as the Bruins played just seven.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 16th meeting between the two schools no more than 10 miles apart. UCLA holds a 13-2 advantage on the Lions with UCLA winning the last 10 meetings. The last meeting came on Dec. 29, 1998 with UCLA winning 92-67. The Lions won in 1941, 40-34 and in 1940, 40-36. The first recorded meetings came in 1937, a 29-26 win for the Bruins. The Lions have not played UCLA on its own campus with all the meetings coming on a neutral court or on the road.
THE COACH
UCLA is coached by first-year Head Coach Ben Howland. Howland has spent the last four years building the Pittsburgh basketball program into one of the finest in the nation. In the last two seasons, he guided the Panthers to a record of 57-11, reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in both years and captured the 2003 Big East Tournament championship. Howland joined the Panthers after orchestrating one of the best turnarounds in NCAA history at Northern Arizona, coaching against LMU head coach Steve Aggers. In his final year at NAU, Howland led the Lumberjacks to a 21-8 record, its third consecutive 20+ win season.
BACK-TO-BACK
Senior Sherman Gay continues his solid start of his final collegiate season as he posted back-to-back 20-point games last week. The Carson, Calif., native set a career-high with 24 points in the win over Cal Poly and then followed that with 21 points against UNLV. Fellow senior Keith Kincade also posted back-to-back 20-point games with 21 against Cal State Northridge and 22 against SUNY-Binghamton. It is the first time in the four-years under Head Coach Steve Aggers the Lions have had a player post consecutive 20-point games. It is also the most 20-point games for the Lions since the 1998-99 season.
FAB FIVE
The Lions started the season 5-0 for the first time since 1952-53 when they defeated San Diego State, Hawaii, Arizona State, Northern Arizona. and Centenary. This year LMU has defeated UC Riverside, CS Northridge, Binghamton, CCSU and Cal Poly. The five straight to start the year is also the first five-game winning streak since the 1995-96 season when they posted a six-game streak to start the season 8-1. In the 1952-53 season, the Lions started 6-0 for the best start in school history.
ON THE DEFENSIVE
The Lions had their best start in 51 years thanks in large part to an impressive defense that has held opponents to just 40.8 percent shooting from the field while allowing a mere 63 points per game, ranking third in both categories in the West Coast Conference. In addition, they are holding teams to 29 percent from the three-point line (second in the WCC) and forcing more than 17 turnovers per game. They lead the WCC in steals with 7.6 per game and are second in blocks with 3.67 per game. In the win over Riverside, LMU held UCR to just 15 percent (2-for-13) from the three-point line. Against the Matadors, LMU held them to 43 percent from the field (26-of-60), forcing 22 turnovers on 11 steals. Against Binghamton, the Lions limited the Bearcats to just 39.2 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from three while forcing 20 turnovers. To win the Mohegan Sun Classic title they held CCSU to 57 points on 32.8 percent shooting. To cap the winning streak, LMU held Cal Poly to 41 percent from the field and just 15 percent from the three-point line (2-for-13).
UNDER 60
In Aggers' first season in 2000-01 the Lions held Loyola of Chicago to 53 points in a 10-point win on Dec. 21, 2000. They equaled that low in the first win of the season against UC Riverside. That first season saw the Lions hold opponents under 60 points five times, equaling the most by an LMU team in the last 30 years. Surprisingly, the other team to do it was coached by Paul Westhead, which came in his first season in 1985-86. Thanks to a 58-57 win over Central Connecticut State, the Lions have now held opponents to under 60 points three of the first six games in 2003 (53 - UCR, 56 - SUNY, 57 - CCSU). Under Aggers, the Lions are 10-1 in games holding opponents under 60 points.
DYNAMIC DUO
Seniors Sherman Gay and Keith Kincade have jumped out to a solid start in their final seasons of collegiate basketball. Gay and Kincade are one-two on the team in scoring with 14.7 and 13.6 points, respectively. In wins over Cal State Northridge and SUNY-Binghamton, Kincade scored 21 and 22 points, respectively. It was the first time in his career he scored 20 points in back-to-back games. He hit a career-best 3-for-5 from the three-point line in the win over Binghamton. He finished the week shooting 88 percent from the free throw line, going 12-for-13 in the win over the Matadors. Heading into the week he ranked 12th in the WCC in scoring and leads the league in free throw percentage at 91.3 (21-for-23). Gay set a career-high with 24 points in 36 minutes in the win over Cal Poly and then posted his first back-to-back 20-point games with 21 against UNLV. He has pushed his average to 14.7 per game, ranking him eighth in the WCC. He added seven rebounds against the Rebels to place him second on the team in rebounds with 5.5 per game (13th in the WCC).
BLOCK PARTY
Senior Sherman Gay had the best season of his career in 2002-03, setting the all-time single season record for blocks with 60. He snapped the record of 55 held by Richard Patruska and Silvester Kainga. With his record-setting season last year, he is making a move for the all-time record at LMU. He has started the season with seven blocks, giving him 94 his career and moving him ahead of Ime Oduok for second and three behind Chris Knight for the all-time mark. After leading the WCC in blocks a year ago, Gay is fourth with 1.17 per game while teammate Chris Ayer is second with 1.33 per game.
TOURNEY CROWN
The 58-57 dramatic victory over Central Connecticut State in the title game of the Mohegan Sun Classic on Sunday, Nov. 30, was the first tournament win for the Lions since winning the Nike Festival in December of the 1995-96 season. The Lions defeated host Hawaii and Nevada to start the season 8-1.
UNLV RECAP
The Loyola Marymount University men's basketball team suffered its first set-back of the season, 78-61 to UNLV on Saturday night at Gersten Pavilion. The Lions (5-1), off to their best start in 51 years, was led by senior Sherman Gay with 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals. UNLV's Odartey Blankson had 25 points and 12 rebounds to lead UNLV. Jerel Blasingame added 19 points for UNLV (5-1). After trailing by as many as 13 in the first half, the Lions took a 41-40 lead four minutes into the second half on a pair of free throws by Gay. However, the Rebels' defense and transition game were too much for the Lions down the stretch. The Rebels outscored the Lions 26 to 11 in the final seven minutes, including a stretch that saw the Lions go scoreless for six minutes. "We have been playing very aggressive defensively in our first five games this season. UNLV did it to us tonight. They had great defensive intensity that was a huge part of their success," said Aggers. The Rebels shot 47.1 from the field and 84.6 percent from the free-throw line, while Loyola shot 38 percent from the field and made 73.3 from the line. UNLV made 8-of-21 three-point attempts, with Blasingame and Romel Beck accounting for three 3-pointers apiece. Junior Charles Brown had a season-high 14 points and freshman Damian Martin had a career-high seven rebounds with six points and three steals.
NUMBER FIVE
Senior Sherman Gay scored 24 points to lead Loyola Marymount University men's basketball to a 68-67 win over Cal Poly in a non-conference match-up at Gersten Pavilion. The Lions trailed at the half for the first time all season, but used a 7-2 run to start the second half to take a 46-41 lead on a lay-up by senior Keith Kincade, who finished with 15 points on the night. Sophomore Chris Ayer added 13 points with eight rebounds for the Lions. LMU built the lead to eight, including a 65-57 edge with 8:20 remaining thanks to a jumper by senior Jason Dickens. However, Cal Poly (2-2) used an 8-0 run and held the Lions without a field goal for more than six minutes to tie the game at 65-65 with 2:19 remaining on a hook shot by Varnie Dennis. The senior led all scorers with 28 points and 10 rebounds. The Lions held the Mustangs to 33 percent from the field in the second half and held them to 41 percent for the game. With the game tied, Gay would break free for a dunk on a fast break to give LMU a 67-65 lead with 2:02 remaining. After a Wes Wardrop free throw, Kameron Gray would hit two free throws with 11 seconds remaining to put the Mustangs within one, 68-67. Gay would then miss a front end of a one-and-one to give Cal Poly one last shot. Dennis would have his shot blocked by Gay at the buzzer.
FOR THE TITLE
Senior Sherman Gay hit a tip-in lay-up with 27 seconds remaining to lift the Lions to a 58-57 come-from-behind victory over Central Connecticut State University. Sophomore Dustin Brown, who played prep basketball at St. Thomas Moore in Connecticut, had a career-afternoon, scoring 19 points with eight rebounds off the bench. Brown was named tournament MVP. LMU trailed most of the second half. LMU defeated Binghamton University, 67-56, in the first day of the Mohegan Sun Classic to advance to the title game. Senior Keith Kincade led the Lions with 22 points, going 3-for-5 from the three-point line, all in the first half.
TAKING NOTE
Although it is early in the season, the Lions are making their mark among rankings and the RPI. After the win over Cal Poly, the Lions moved to an RPI ranking of 31, its highest since the late-1980s. In addition, the Lions are gathering votes in both the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major top-25.
DEBUT
Freshman Damian Martin and redshirt freshmen Antti Kasko and John Montgomery made their collegiate debuts in 2003-04 season. Martin started his career with 23 minutes against UC Riverside and earned his first start in the win over Cal Poly. In six games he has averaged 5.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals. He is ranked sixth in the WCC in steals and 15th in assists. Kasko made his first appearance against Northridge and was solid in 15 minutes of play. He had four points, including a pair of free throws, and a team-high six rebounds. He also added a block and a steal in the win. Montgomery gave the Lions a huge lift off the bench in the wins over Binghamton and CCSU, earning an assist and a defensive rebound against the Bearcats and hitting a crucial three-pointer with an assist, a steal and a rebound over CCSU.
FOR OPENERS
LMU improved to its record in home-openers to 4-0 in the tenure of fourth-year Head Coach Steve Aggers. The Lions improved to 3-1 in season openers under Aggers. All-time, LMU is 32-17 in season openers since it joined the West Coast Conference in 1955-56. Last year's win over Loyola Chicago was the Lions first season opening win against an NCAA Division I opponent since they defeated Morgan State 140-110 in the Los Angeles Classic on Nov. 22, 1991. With this year's win, it is the first time in program history the Lions have start consecutive seasons with wins over Division I opponents.
ON THE GLASS
Rebounding was stressed by the LMU coaching staff heading into the 2003-04 season. Despite becoming the first WCC opponent to out-rebound Gonzaga in 13 games, the Lions were seventh in the WCC with a -3.5 rebound margin in 2002-03. This season leading the way for the Lions is sophomore Chris Ayer. He started the season with a career-high 12 rebounds against UCR and five more against CSUN. After six games, Ayer leads the West Coast Conference with 7.7 rebounds per game, getting eight in the win over Cal Poly. Ayer is also second in the WCC in blocks with 1.3 per game. Gay is second on the team in rebounds with 5.5, ranking him 13th in the WCC. Third on the team is freshman Damian Martin with 4.5 per game.
KNOCKING THEM DOWN
The Lions will put an emphasis on improving their field goal percentage. The Lions finished the 2002-03 season hitting 42.8 percent from the field to rank sixth in the WCC. To start the 2003-04, LMU is shooting 43.8 percent, led by senior Jason Dickens at 66.7 percent (among players with 12 or more made field goals). Sherman Gay led the team in 2002-03 with 51.5 percent from the field and currently is shooting 49.3 percent this season (10th in the WCC). A key to the Lions' offense in 2002-03 will be sophomore Brandon Worthy. As a true freshman in 2002-03, the native of San Jose, Calif., was voted the Offensive Player of the Year by his teammates as he earned honorable mention all-conference honors in the WCC last season. He turned heads with his freshman record 24 points in the first game of the season against Loyola Chicago. He is out with a broken hand until late-December.
MORE NUMBERS
Sophomore Charles Brown finished the 2002-03 season with 137 assists, the highest since Jim Williamson had 140 in 1996-97. Brown also added 61 steals on the season, which is tied for sixth in LMU history with Corey Gaines and Tom Peabody. It is the most since Terrell Lowery had 79 in 1990-91... Freshman Brandon Worthy was second in the entire WCC with 149 free throws in his first season as a Lion. He replaces Ed Bento for 10th all-time in LMU history for free throws in a single season. Bento had 144 in the 1962 season. Bo Kimble has the record of 231 in the 1990 season.
GERSTEN PAVILION
The Lions' home opener on Nov. 21 against UC Riverside will start the 24th season of basketball at Gersten Pavilion. Opening on Jan. 15, 1981, the men's basketball team has set many records, including several national NCAA records. More memorable moments in Gersten's history include the Lions' 16-game winning streak from Feb. 28, 1987 through Nov. 28, 1988. Gersten is also the home of the all-time NCAA Division I highest scoring game, a 186-140 win by the Lions over US International on Jan. 5, 1991. The Lions finished 7-6 in 2002-03 in Gersten, giving them an overall record of 162-134 (.547) in the facility. With another 3-0 start in 2003, the Lions are now 165-135 all-time in Gersten.
- GO LIONS -
