March 6, 2006

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Spokane, WA (March 6) - In a season that was filled with buzzer beaters, it was bitter irony that the Loyola Marymount men's basketball team saw their hopes for a trip to the NCAA Tournament come down to the last shot and come painfully inches short. The Lions fell to fourth-ranked Gonzaga 68-67 in the 2006 West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Championship in Spokane, Wash., on Monday night as their shot for the upset was tipped wide at the buzzer.

In a game the Lions gave the fourth-ranked Zags everything they can handle, they found themselves in possession of the ball with 10 seconds left. After a pair of timeouts, junior Brandon Worthy looked to be trapped in the corner but found senior Chris Ayer open under the basket. Ayer's lay-up appeared to be tipped as it sailed high and the upset bid went for naught.

The Lions were led by Worthy's 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. Junior Matthew Knight added his 17th double-double of the year and 19th of his career with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Ayer added 12 points and nine rebounds. The Lions held player of the year candidate Adam Morrison to just 6-for-18 from the field for 23 points. J.P. Batista added 13 and 10 for the Bulldgos.

The game featured nine lead changes and eight ties down the stretch as the Lions (12-18) led for most of the affair. LMU held Gonzaga (27-3) to a season low 38.6 percent from the field and took a lead as large as 15 in the second half.

However, junior guard Worthy proved how worthy he really is the Lions squad as his fourth foul changed an LMU upset bid. Worthy picked up his fourth foul with 12:53 remaining and the Lions holding a 48-35 lead. The Zags took advantage and went on a 14-2 run, holding the Lions without field goal for more than five minutes in Worthy's absence.

The Zags would finally take their first lead of the second half on free throws by Morrison with 4:38 remaining. The lead would grow to five with 3:40 remaining, 66-61. The Lions would not go away and took the lead back with free throws by senior Wes Wardrop, 67-66 with 1:43 remaining.

J.P. Batista answered on the next possession with an offensive rebound putback in what proved to be the game winner.

Knight earned his 1,000 career point in the game as the Lions finished 42.4 percent from the field and 40 percent from the three points line, all the first half. It was the sixth game on the year the Lions fell at the buzzer.

- GO LIONS -