Loyola Goes for 14-0 Mark in WCAC Play

Loyola Marymount can close out its first perfect season in conference play tonight at San Diego, where the Lions finish the regular season. Loyola, 23-3 overall and 13-0 in the West Coast Athletic Conference, has already clinched the top seeding in the WCAC’s post-season tournament.

Lion players have been saying for weeks that their immediate goal is to go 14-0 in the WCAC and take a 21-game winning streak into the tournament.

San Diego is in seventh place in the eight-team league at 3-10 (11-15 overall) but is tough in its bandbox gym, as Thursday’s 76-74 victory over Pepperdine showed. Tonight’s game is a sellout.

Loyola has won its last two road games on last-second heroics by Mike Yoest. His free throw with two seconds left beat Santa Clara, 94-93, two weeks ago, and his three-pointer at the buzzer beat St. Mary’s, 96-94, Thursday. The Lions go into tonight’s game with several players battling the flu, and Corey Gaines will play on an injured ankle.

Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble lead the Lions’ 110-point per game attack, averaging about 22 points apiece. Forward Marty Munn leads the Toreros with a 13.6 average.