Loyola Defeats San Diego for Ninth Consecutive Win

SAN DIEGO —  Loyola Marymount won its ninth consecutive game Thursday night, but the University of San Diego made the Lions earn the 104-102 victory before more than 2,500 fans at the University of San Diego Sports Center.

Neither team led by more than seven points. There were 20 lead changes, six ties, and plenty of action.

A 9-0 run during a three-minute stretch gave the Lions a six-point lead, 100-94, with 1:06 left.

Loyola point guard Terrell Lowery had 35 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. Twenty-three of those points came in the second half.

The Lions improved to 15-13 overall and 8-5 in West Coast Conference play. Loyola moved into a second-place tie with San Diego (16-10, 8-5), which lost its third in a row after having won nine of 10.

Each team has one game remaining before the WCC tournament next week. San Diego plays host to Pepperdine on Saturday, and Loyola plays at Santa Clara.

“I hope I don’t have to play them in the tournament,” Loyola Coach Jay Hillock said of the Toreros.

Forward Anthony Thomas scored a career-high 31 points for San Diego.