LMU Ends Losing Streak With Win Versus Santa Clara
By Josh Horton
Dec 6, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Loyola Marymount Lions guard Anthony Ireland (3) dribbles the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. Pittsburgh won 85-68. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
After enduring a 14 game stretch where the Lions only won one game, and more recently a seven game stretch where LMU went winless, Anthony Ireland and Loyola Marymount knocked off Santa Clara at home by a score of 75-71.
Freshman Evan Payne was electric tonight, scoring 27 points off 11 of 19 shooting, grabbing six rebounds and posting four steals. Ireland led the Lions with 4 assists while also chipping in 20 points himself. Alex Osborne was one point shy of recording a double-double, as he failed to score enough points to go along with his team-high 11 rebounds. Evan Payne was the Lions only other double-digit scoring with 10.
Santa Clara was led by senior point guard Evan Roquemore, who scored 19 points and dished out 5 assists in the loss. Yannick Atanga was the Broncos primary rebounder tonight with seven rebounds. Starting guards Brandon Clark and Jared Brownridge were able to put up double-digit points with 17 and 12 respectively.
Keys to the Game Checklist
LMU
(Check) Get Ireland and Payne shots
Ireland and Payne put up 30 shots combined tonight’s and scored 47 points as a result. The Lions certainly succeeded in this key to the game based on that stat alone.
Santa Clara
Utilize the bench
Roquemore had 19 points off the bench, and Jerry Brown and Denzel Johnson scored seven apiece totaling 33 points. While Roquemore can barely be considered a reserve player considering he played the second most minutes tonight on Santa Clara, but nonetheless this was a good showing for the Bronco bench.
Moving Forward
Both of these teams will surely be playing on opening day in the WCC tournament as a bottom four seed. Which seed they will be and what team they will play remains in question.
Santa Clara is tied with Pacific for eighth place currently, and LMU remains one game behind. Saturday’s slate of games will reveal the seeding order for the WCC tournament, and there could be some drastic changes as a result of the closeness at the bottom of the standings.