Smith Gets 28 Points, Leads Loyola to 81-66 Win Over San Francisco

Keith Smith scored 28 points Friday night to lead Loyola Marymount to an 81-66 victory over San Francisco in a West Coast Athletic Conference game at USF’s Memorial Gym.

Forrest McKenzie and Mike Yoest added 19 points apiece as the Lions raised their record to 18-8 overall and 10-2 in the WCAC. USF fell to 7-19 and 2-10.

The win kept the Lions one game behind Pepperdine in the conference race. Loyola faces Santa Clara tonight at Santa Clara, then winds up the regular season with a game at Pepperdine Wednesday night.

Loyola took a 38-28 lead over USF at halftime, but the Dons closed to 60-55 with 8:53 left in the game. The Lions responded with a 12-2 run to take command at 72-57.

Smith, who hit 12 of 17 shots from the floor, also had five assists. McKenzie, who hit 9 of 18 shots, had a career-high 14 rebounds.