San Francisco (12-13) at Loyola Marymount (10-17)
DATE & TIME: Friday, February 28th, 10:05 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Gersten Pavilion (4,156) -- Los Angeles, California.
Television: None. Home Record: San Francisco 9-5, Loyola Marymount 7-4. Away
Record: San Francisco 3-8, Loyola Marymount 1-10. Neutral Record: San
Francisco 0-0, Loyola Marymount 2-3. Conference Record: San Francisco 7-5,
Loyola Marymount 4-8. Series Record: San Francisco leads, 91-29.
GAME NOTES: The San Francisco Dons try to keep their grip on third place in
the West Coast Conference standings when they battle the Loyola Marymount
Lions from Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles tonight. The Dons enter the game
just 12-13 on the season, but have been successful in conference action with a
7-5 mark. San Francisco is currently one game ahead of Pepperdine for third
place in the WCC, but has to finish the season on the road where it is only
3-8 thus far. The Dons dropped an 81-63 decision to San Diego last Saturday,
which was their second loss in the last three games. As for Loyola Marymount,
it is currently tied for sixth place in the WCC at 4-8 and is a disappointing
10-17 overall. The Lions were crushed, 94-71 by Pepperdine last Saturday,
marking the team's second consecutive loss. San Francisco has a 91-29 all-
times series advantage over Loyola Marymount, and has won three straight over
the Lions, including a 91-73 victory earlier this season at home.
San Francisco shot a dismal 39.7 percent from the field and an even worse 19.0
percent from long range, as it was hammered by San Diego last weekend, 81-63.
The Toreros knocked down 52.8 percent from the field and 54.8 percent from
three-point land, in addition to owning a 40-31 rebounding advantage. The Dons
were also outdone at the free-throw line where San Diego converted 19-of-28
compared to only 5-of-7 for USF. Darrell Tucker paced San Francisco in defeat
with 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field and six boards. John Cox
added 11 points, while James Bayless recorded a double-double with 10 points
and 10 rebounds in the losing cause. The Dons are led on the season by Tucker,
who is the third-leading scorer in the WCC with 17.9 ppg and is also the
second-leading rebounder with 8.1 rpg. Cox adds a solid one-two punch with
15.6 ppg and is draining 43.1 percent from three-point land, while Shammell
Stallworth chips in 12.8 ppg. Bayless adds 10.4 ppg and 5.7 rpg for San
Francisco, which is averaging 68.8 ppg on 46.2 percent shooting from the field
this season.
Loyola Marymount is led on the season by Brandon Worthy, who is turning in
11.6 ppg primarily coming off the bench. Charles Brown nets 10.9 ppg and is
the team's top playmaker with 4.2 apg, while Andy Osborn adds 10.1 ppg and 4.0
rpg. As a team, the Lions are netting 71.5 ppg on only 42.7 percent shooting
from the field this season. In its last contest, Loyola Marymount could not
overcome 20 turnovers and 12 three-pointers from Pepperdine in a 23-point loss
to the Waves. The Lions shot only 44.4 percent from the field in the game,
while Pepperdine knocked down a rock-solid 53.1 percent. Sherman Gay led LMU
with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor. Worthy added 13 points and
four assists, while Osborn chipped in 10 points in the losing effort.
San Francisco has a lot to play for in its next couple of games, and should
not look past a struggling Loyola Marymount squad tonight. The Lions have had
a disappointing season to say the least, but with a couple of wins to close
things out, they could pull into the middle of the WCC. The Dons should still
be able to win this game despite their road troubles this season, since they
are simply the more talented team.