Loyola Has a Tuneup Before Going on the Road

Loyola Marymount University beat on another undermanned sparring partner but couldn’t quite deliver a knockout in a 116-101 victory Monday night over Southern California College before a crowd of 850 at Loyola.

The game against the NAIA-level Vanguards served as a tuneup for Loyola, which now takes its first multiple-stop trip, playing at Brooklyn College in New York Wednesday and at Loyola of Chicago Friday.

The Lions (5-1), who have three victories over non-Division I opponents, quickly built a 20-point lead at the start of the second half and were comfortably ahead, 89-68, at the 12-minute mark when Southern California College (4-3) hit a flurry of three-pointers to get back into the game.

Jeff Stephens made two three-pointers and another jumper, and Mike Lightfoot hit a three-pointer and two free throws to pull the Vanguards within 10, 97-87.

But Loyola guard Chris Nikchevich answered with a three-pointer of his own--his fifth of the game--and the Lions outgunned the Vanguards the rest of the way.

Lightfoot led all scorers with 25 points, followed by Stephens with 24, Randy Wynne with 23 and Rob Lucas with 21. The Vanguards had only eight healthy players.

Mike Yoest topped Loyola with 22 points, followed by Nikchevich with 21 and 13 assists and Mark Armstrong with 16 points and 19 rebounds. Eleven Loyola players scored.

Nikchevich set the pace quickly, opening the game with a three-pointer and hitting two more in the opening minutes. He had 13 points in the half.

The Vanguards hung on for much of the half behind guard Wynne, who scored five straight points to pull his team within nine at 39-30 with about six minutes left. But Loyola pulled steadily away in the last five minutes to take a 61-44 lead at halftime. Wynne had 13 points in the half and backcourt partner Stephens had 12.