Loyola Barely Escapes CS Sacramento, 73-71

Loyola Marymount rallied from a nine-point deficit in the last four minutes to defeat Cal State Sacramento, 73-71, on Wyking Jones’ tip-in at the buzzer Tuesday night.

In Loyola’s final home game of the season, played before a sparse crowd at Gersten Pavilion, Sacramento (1-24) threatened to win its first road game in three seasons as a Division I program.

The Hornets led for most of the nonconference game and went ahead, 65-56, on a three-pointer by Damone Williams with 4:02 to play. At that point, the prospect of Loyola losing to one of the nation’s worst teams appeared very real.

“It crossed my mind,” said Jones, a forward. “At the same time, I had confidence in my teammates and in myself. I figured we’d find a way to pull it out.”

Loyola (6-18) got back in the game with a full-court press and took its first lead of the second half, 71-70, on a layup by guard Robin Kirksey with 43 seconds left. The basket came after the Lions forced a turnover on an inbounds pass.

After Sacramento forward Michael Boyd tied the score by making one of two free throws with 19 seconds left, Loyola got the ball up court and into the hands of guard Bill Mazurie, who dribbled several seconds before putting up a five-foot airball.

Jones, though, was in favorable position, catching the ball and putting it into the basket in one motion as the buzzer sounded, ending a three-game Loyola losing streak and extending Sacramento’s to 21 games. The Hornets have now lost 49 consecutive road games in the last three seasons.

Said Loyola Coach John Olive: “They outplayed us most of the game. What was nice to see is that we executed in the last four minutes.”

Center Ime Odouk led Loyola with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Jones added 15 points and Mazurie scored 13. Boyd led all scorers with 31 points.