Jan. 17, 2012
LMU is celebrating its Centennial in 2011-12 and athletics will honor the anniversary all season long. LMUat100 will feature a Centennial Game for each of the varsity programs, which will include a full list of activities in and around the largest home schedule in LMU men's basketball history. LMU men's hoops will host 22 total games in Gersten Pavilion this season, 19 of which feature the Lions - the most in program history. Each step along the way there will be something for everyone. Here is a look back at Centennial Moments so far this season and a look ahead at what is in store for the remainder of the men's basketball Centennial Celebration.
Nov. 1 vs. La Verne The Nov. 1 exhibition is the earliest game of any kind (exhibition/regular season) in LMU basketball history. The earliest game found in LMU records was the annual scrimmage which was the Crimson-Gray Game on Nov. 2 1989. It that game, Gray won 150-141. Bo Kimble (gray) and Hank Gathers (Crimson) went for 57 and 52 points, respectively.
Nov. 13 vs. Middle Tennessee State
The Lions home opener on Nov. 22, 2002 against Loyola Chicago featured true freshman Brandon Worthy in his first game. He went on to set LMU's record for points in first game of college basketball with 24, going 10-for-11 from the free throw line. He would finish his career 17th all-time in scoring with 1,255 points and fourth with 437 made free throws.
Nov. 19 vs. Harvard
Did you know that it wasn't until the late 1980's that college basketball started to begin its season before Thanksgiving. The Lions will play four games before Turkey Day in 2011-12. The first time the Lions played before Thanksgiving wasn't until the 1985-86 season. The Lions played Azusa Pacific on Nov. 23, 1985. Thanksgiving was Nov. 28 that year. It was also Paul Westhead's first game as head coach.
Nov. 26 vs. Northern Arizona
The Lions played their 72nd overtime game against Idaho State on Wednesday. Did you know that the very first overtime game came in the 1926-27 season against California Christian College. The Lions won 16-14. The longest game in LMU history was a five-overtime affair against Fresno State in 1957. The Lions lost 92-90. LMU has played three overtime games so far in 2011-12, winning all three. The Lions have never won three overtime games in a season in school history and improve to 34-44 all-time in overtime games.
Nov. 29 vs. #23 St. Louis
Part of celebrating LMU's Centennial is embracing its history. Its foundation is Jesuit and tonight's matchup is part of the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project, using Jesuit basketball to raise awareness of Jesuit education. The project highlights more than 90 games from the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities across the United States. Each of the 28 is dedicated to strong academics and teaching women and men to serve others and live a faith that does justice. Visit www.ajcunet.edu for more. The Lions would go on to win 75-68.
Dec. 2 - 4 - DOUBLETREE LOS ANGELES WESTSIDE CENTENNIAL CLASSIC
The Lions are hosting their first tournament since 1992-93 when they hosted the L.A. Classic. The Lions hosted Stetson, CSU Northridge and #24 Michigan State on Dec. 11-12 that season. They defeated the Matadors 71-66 and fell to the Spartans, 73-70. The L.A. Classic was started the year before when the Lions opened the season hosting Morgan State, Washington State and Central Connecticut State. The Lions defeated MSU 140-110, and fell to WSU, 95-84.
Dec. 10 vs. Idaho State
Drew Viney became the first Lion to reach a 1,000 points in his career last weekend. The first was Bill Donovan when he hit the 1,000 point mark in the fi nal game of his junior season against Pepperdine in 1949. He was named AAU All-American as a player and fi nished with 1,375 points. It held as the all-ti me leader for 11 seasons. He then came back to coach the Lions and led the team to 107 wins, the most among any coach in LMU history. He led the Lions to the 1961 WCAC championship.
Dec. 27 vs. Vanguard
The Lions will play BYU for just the third time in school history and for the first time ever in Los Angeles when the Cougars come to Gersten Pavilion for WCC action on Jan. 5. It is the first opponent in conference play other than the seven schools that have made up the league since 1979 and the first other than those seven in Gersten Pavilion. The last time the Lions played a WCC game against a team other than its most recent membership was Nevada on Feb. 3, 1979. The Lions won 67-62 in Alumni Gym.
Jan. 5 vs. BYU
The Lions very first conference game in the current WCC came in the 1955-56 season when the league started as the California Basketball Association. The Lions defeated Fresno State in the opener on the road, 77-69, and then won at home, over Pacific, 70-63. They went on to finish 9-5 in league play that season. Two years later the first WCAC game took place against San Jose State in the 1957-58 season. Two years later the Lions would tie for the league title and then in 1960-61 they would win their first WCC crown.
Jan. 14 vs. Gonzaga
In the last 100 years, the opportunities to beat a ranked team at home have been few. When No. 23 Saint Louis came to Gersten Pavilion on Nov. 29, it was just the 16th time a ranked opponent came to the building since it opened on Jan. 15, 1981. Overall, in more than 75 years located on the bluff in Westchester, No. 21 Gonzaga's trip to the bluff will be just the 31st time the Lions have hosted a ranked opponent. During the Paul Westhead era, in which the Lions won three West Coast Conference titles, the Lions hosted just one ranked opponent - No. 7 Oklahoma on Dec. 23, 1989. The Zags will be the second this season and fifth under Head Coach Max Good, who is 2-2 in those games.
Coming up:
Jan. 26 vs. Saint Mary's - WCC Represent Night
LMU Service Organizations Night, Coaches vs. Cancer
Jan. 28 vs. Portland - 2012 Homecoming
Pregame Tailgate; Alumni Night. Sponsors: Student Alumni Association, ASLMU. Giveaways: Homecoming T-Shirts
Game on FS West
Feb. 2 vs. Pepperdine - Wells Fargo PCH Cup
Pregame Tailgate; Greek Night; Sponsors: Loyolan, Wells Fargo; Giveaways: Loyolan Bobble Heads.
Game on FS PrimeTicket.
Feb. 4 vs. San Francisco - Sponsor Appreciation Night
Sponsors: Career Development Services (CDS) wtih CDS Go Lions signs
Feb. 17-19 - SEARS BRACKETBUSTER - Family Weekend
2012 Centennial Game; Pregame Tailgate; Sponsors: ROAR. Giveaways: LMU Blankets. A ticket to LMU men's basketball game will get you into all the games that day. More to come when the game is announced by ESPN on Jan. 31.
Feb. 23 vs. San Diego - Military Personnel Night
Feb. 25 vs. Santa Clara - Centennial Senior Day
Family of Schools; Chamber of Commerce Night
Game on FS West
