Dec. 23, 2005
Box Score
Honolulu, HI (Dec. 23) - The Loyola Marymount University men's basketball team's three games in the 2006 Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic was not for the faint of heart as they dropped another heartbreaker in finale on Friday. The Lions fell to South Florida, 54-50, as James Holmes hit a three-pointer with 31 seconds remaining to give the Bulls the win at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"The guys do not deserve this," said Head Coach Rodney Tention. "They worked hard these last three games. We just need a little bit of luck. We are headed to Las Vegas next and hope to get a little lady luck on our side."
The Lions fell by a combined eight points in the three games during the Rainbow Classic, falling by three to Hawaii, one to Western Michigan and the four-point setback to the Bulls. The last four setbacks for the Lions have all gone down to the final play and by a combined 10 points.
"Our effort has been there. Our guys can't work any harder," said Tention. "We are learning how important defense is and we are starting to come together. We did much better on defense in the second half, holding them to just 28 percent. We just need to keep improving and these will start to go our way."
Senior Chris Ayer, playing with four stitches in his left eye and badly swollen, led the Lions with 12 points and four rebounds. He was the only Lion in double figures as they had to rally from a 16-point deficit in the second half to push South Florida. Holmes led all scorers with 24 points, hitting 4-for-6 from the three-point line, just the one in the second half to win it.
Holmes three-pointer game USF a 52-50 lead. The Lions then turned the ball over on their next possession and were Ayer was forced to foul. Solomon Jones then missed the front end of the one-and-one to give the Lions another shot with 22 seconds on the clock.
Junior John Montgomery, who finished with eight points, had an open look from three with six seconds on the clock but it bounced off the rim three times before falling out. Ayer committed his fifth foul with two seconds left and Chris Capko hit both free throws for the final margin.
Shooting woes continued for the Lions in the first half as they fell down by 15 at the break thanks to shooting just 36.4 percent compared to USF's 50 percent. The Bulls hit 6-for-11 from the three-point in the first half to build the lead, including 17 points by Holmes.
However, the Lions recovered with defense and shut South Florida down, holding them to just 28.6 in the second frame, making just 6-for-21 from the field. The Lions improved with 44 percent in the second frame, hitting 11-for-25. LMU finished 40.4 percent for the game while USF was 40.0 percent.
After just one of two free throws from Melvin Buckley to open the second half, the Lions went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 35-28 on a Brandon Worthy lay-in. The Lions then went on a 14-5 run to tie it 42-42 on a John Montgomery three-pointer.
South Florida responded with a 5-0 run of their own to take a 47-42 lead on a lay-in by Jones with 6:53 remaining. LMU came right back, as John Haywood cut it three on a tip-in with 5:51 remaining and then Wes Wardrop tied it again at 47-47 with a three-pointer.
A pair of free throws by Chris Capko made it 49-47 USF with 3:59 left. Ayer hit one of two free throws and then with 1:47 on the clock, Ayer hit a lay-in to give the Lions their first lead, 50-49, since 2-0 just 40 seconds into the game. Both teams could not capitalize on their next trips before Holmes hit from the corner to set-up the ending.
The Lions will play UNLV on the road Dec. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
- GO LIONS -
