Nov. 27, 2004
Box Score
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Nov. 27) - The Loyola Marymount University men's basketball team could not answer the hot second half shooting of UC Riverside as they fall for the first time on the season, 79-72 on Saturday night at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside, Calif.
The Lions led by one at the half 31-30, but it was the Highlanders hot second half shooting from the three-point line that made the difference. UC Riverside hit 6-of-8 from the three-point line in the half (77.8 percent) and finished shooting 50 percent for the game to improve to 2-2 on the season. LMU falls to 2-1 on the year.
Sophomore Brandon Worthy and the Lions defense kept the game tight. Worthy had a career-high 26 points and the Lions forced 11 steals, five by Worthy to go with his eight assists, and came two shy of a program record with 11 team blocks. It was not enough as Rickey Porter scored 24 points, 20 in the second half thanks to his hot shooting. Porter entered the game 4-of-17 in three games, he went 5-of-12 against the Lions.
Senior Charles Brown added 12 for the Lions while Vili Morton had 21 points and 11 rebounds. While the hot second half shooting gave the Highlanders the edge, it was the tale on the boards that was the big difference in the game. The Lions were outrebounded 49 to 32, including 20 offensive rebounds by the Highlanders.
"We will not win many games if we cannot rebound," said Head Coach Steve Aggers. "They killed us on the boards and it was the difference. They were able to get second chances and got into a rhythm and it was the difference."
With the Lions up 57-55, UC Riverside would go on a 10-3 run over the next 2:40. Porter hit his fourth three-pointer of the half to give the Highlanders a 58-57 lead. David Jobe hit a put-back on an offense rebound and Steve Williams hit a pair of free throws to make it 62-57.
Worthy would not let the Lions go away, hitting his third three-pointer with 5:07 remaining to make it 62-60. Morton would make it 64-60 with a pair of free throws and Williams would stretch the lead to seven with another three-pointer with 4:02 remaining.
After a pair of free throws by Worthy, Justin Bell, who came into the game just 1-for-6 from the three-point line, hit a three-pointer from NBA range to make it 70-62. After Haywood hit a put-back, Williams hit a 12-footer to make it 72-64 with 1:22 remaining.
Brown hit a three-pointer to make it 72-67 with just 1:02 remaining. After the Lions fouled Morton and he missed the front end of a one-and-one, Worthy hit a floating lay-up to make it 72-69 with 31 seconds remaining. It would be as close as the Lions would get as the Highlanders hit their free throws to ice the game.
The Lions return to Gersten Pavilion for Homecoming week as they take on Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 1 and then on Homecoming against Long Beach State on Saturday, Dec. 4. Both games will be at 7:05 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
The Lions came two shy of tying the program record for blocks with 11 against UC Riverside. LMU set the record with 13 against Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 2, 1998.
LMU had their third straight game with double-digit steals, earning 12 against the Highlanders. The Lions had 11 in the opener and 12 against UNC.
LMU had another eight three-pointers against UC Riverside, after seven against both UNC and Monmouth to open the season. In 2003-04 it took the Lions six games to have 14 three-pointers. They have 22 after three games this season. It took nine games to his 22 last season.
Brandon Worthy equaled a career-high with five steals, equaling the mark he had in the opener against Monmouth. He has 12 in three games this season. He also snapped his career-high in points with 26, snapping the mark he set in his first game as a Lion on Nov. 22, 2002.
Brandon Worthy hit three three-pointers in the game. He has four on the season after having four all of his freshman season. He finished 3-for-4.
- GO LIONS -
