Loyola Plays Host to Oregon State

Oregon State, the only team that effectively slowed Loyola Marymount’s fast break last season, will try to do so again tonight at 7:30 at Gersten Pavilion.

The Beavers, off to a 2-0 start in Coach Ralph Miller’s last season, held Loyola to 69 points a year ago in Corvallis, with a hounding defense led by guard Gary Payton. Oregon State won that game, 84-69.

Payton, a junior, opened this season with a triple double--20 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists--against Portland and is averaging 16.5 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists. Also back for the Beavers is St. Bernard High graduate Eric Knox, averaging 16.5 points.

Oregon State’s most impressive addition has been Teo Alibegovic of Yugoslavia. The 6-foot 8-inch freshman leads the team with a 20-point average. The lineup also includes Carson High’s Earl Martin, who is averaging 7 points a game at forward.

Loyola (1-1) is averaging 129 points but doesn’t figure to get that many against Oregon State, which is allowing only 53.5. Guard Bo Kimble, who has scored 22 points in 23 minutes, has been playing on a sore knee and is questionable. Forward Hank Gathers is averaging 33.5 points and 12.5 rebounds. Guards Jeff Fryer, Enoch Simmons and Terrell Lowery are all scoring in double figures.