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LOS ANGELES – The season that stands above all others in LMU Athletics history, is that which belongs to the 1989-90 men's basketball team. With the 30th anniversary of that magical year set for this season, a multi-faceted celebration is planned throughout the year, culminating in a special event on Feb. 29, 2020.
 
The numbers the 1989-90 LMU Lions put up were staggering. Here just a few of the mind-numbing figures the Lions put up that season.

• 122.4 - Number of points averaged per game in 1989-90, still an NCAA Division-I record.
• 28 - The number of games the Lions had over 100 points, also an NCAA record.
• 12 - Consecutive games scored over 100 points, tied with UNLV for the NCAA record.
• 1,131 - Points Bo Kimble scored to lead the nation, ranking 6^th all-time in NCAA history.
• 157 - The number of points the Lions scored to set the WCC record in 157-115 win over USF (2/5/90).
• 149 - The number of points the Lions scored to set the NCAA tournament record in 149-115 win over Michigan (3/18/90).
• 11 - The number of NCAA tournament records the Lions set in just the one game against Michigan (3/18/90).

 
In conjunction with the year-long celebration of this historic team, LMU has partnered with the new on-campus bookstore Barnes and Noble to feature throwback gear from the 89-90 season. Merchandise is available now here. There will be special recognitions throughout the season inside Gersten Pavilion with exclusive giveaways.
 
Mark your calendars for all exclusive giveaways, themed games, tailgates, and on-court opportunities listed below.
 
Season Long Promotions

• Post-Game Layups – For all kids in the sixth grade or younger.
  • 11/16 vs. Colorado State
  • 12/1 vs. Southern Utah
  • 1/25 vs. Saint Mary's
• Student Tailgate Series (All tailgate series will be hosted in conjunction with Student Affairs. Tailgates will include corn hole games, food trucks and more) 
  • 11/16 vs. Colorado State hosted by ASLMU
  • 1/11 vs. Gonzaga hosted by Mane Entertainment
  • 1/25 vs. St. Mary's hosted by ASLMU
  • 2/1 vs. Pepperdine hosted by ASLMU
  • 2/13 vs. BYU hosted by Housing
• Promotions
  • 50^th Anniversary of 69 LMU Football Team – 11/16 vs. Colorado State
  • Community Night – 12/19 vs. Portland State
  • Blue Out – 1/11 vs. Gonzaga
  • Lunar New Year Celebration – 1/23 vs. Portland
  • Salute to Service – 1/25 vs. Saint Mary's
  • LMU Day – 2/1 vs. Pepperdine
  • College of Business Night – 2/13 vs. BYU
  • 30^th Anniversary of 89-90 LMU Basketball Team
• Giveaways
  • 69 LMU Football National Champions T-Shirt Giveaway – 11/16 vs. Colorado State
  • Ugly Sweater T-Shirt Giveaway – 12/7 vs. Grambling State
  • Blue Out T-Shirts – 1/11 vs. Gonzaga
  • Lunar New Year T-Shirts – 1/23 vs. Portland
  • Iggy Bobblehead – 2/13 vs. BYU
  • Throwback 89-90 LMU T-Shirt – 2/29 vs. San Francisco

 
 
A look back to what the media published about the 1988-89 Team:
 
Before Sunday's West Regional final, all of Nevada Las Vegas' starters approached Loyola Coach Paul Westhead, wished him luck and acknowledged his team's special journey through the NCAA tournament. After the game, players from both sides embraced at halfcourt. But for the 40 minutes in between of playing time, UNLV handed the Lions their most lopsided defeat of the season, ending their emotional quest with a 131-101 victory to advance to the Final Four in Denver... While UNLV continues on to Denver, the Lions returned to Los Angeles with their second-best record ever at 26-6. They can look back on their own final four--their three tournament victories preceding Sunday's loss after Gathers' death, a period during which they received national attention... "Today was the way the last three should have been, proof the last three were unexplainable," Westhead said. "They were examples of the human spirit rising above occasions. But we're not angels, and we can't always rise above. I'm not devastated. When we entered this tournament I made the decision this wasn't for winning or losing, but to play hard for Hank. We were playing basketball on another level. It wasn't on the level of wins and losses. To play hard and care and do quality things, that's enough."... "I think we'll be remembered as a team that had heart and showed its love for Hank Gathers and basketball," Kimble said. Sunday, in a 30-point loss, that seemed enough.
-- Los Angeles Times, Alan Drooz, Mar. 26, 1990
 
We also follow it to pour our hearts out to Loyola Marymount, which showed us that the emotion of losing a cherished comrade is high-octane stuff, capable of revving up an offense that seemed already to be moving as fast as it possibly could.
-- Sports Illustrated, Alexander Wolff, Mar. 26, 1990
 
More than 14,000 people rose to their feet to salute Bo Kimble and the Loyola Marymount University basketball team. Only this time, the crowd was honoring a team that lost by 30 points in the NCAA Tournament West Regional Finals. The Lions, who became America's Team because of their inspired play following the death of teammate Hank Gathers on March 4, could not overcome powerful Nevada-Las Vegas, which scored a 131-101 victory.
-- South Bay Daily Breeze, Chris Long, Mar. 26, 1990
 
They just could not find that special magic they had against Michigan when they made 55 percent of their shots. This time they shot only 37 percent. This time they did not scramble and get to the critical loose balls. This time they did not bounce into the lane for long rebounds. This time they did not catch players who broke their press. 
 
He [Bo Kimble] was asked how he would like this Loyola Marymount University team to be remembered. "As a team that had heart, character, and a lot of pride" he said. "As a team that showed their love for Hank Gathers and basketball by participating in the NCAA Tournament."
-- South Bay Daily Breeze, Mike Waldner, Mar. 26, 1990
 
What might have been the most intriguing 21 days in postseason college basketball history came to an abrupt end 16 years ago in Oakland… It involved the death of a star player during a game days before the NCAA Tournament began, a style that set the NCAA record for scoring and mesmerized everyone who witnessed it, a series of emotional NCAA Tournament upsets, a right-handed player who led the nation in scoring and shot some of his postseason free throws left-handed in honor of his deceased friend, a coach who quoted Shakespeare to his players, and, ultimately, a loss to a team that would win the national championship. It was 1990. It was Loyola Marymount. It was almost beyond belief." 
-- San Francisco Chronicle, Jake Curtis, March 22, 2006