Loyola Uses Defense to Defeat USF, 113-95

West Coast Athletic Conference play opened Wednesday, and the University of San Francisco tried to hold Loyola Marymount to a moderate pace.

So, the Lions introduced a new wrinkle: A tough defense to go with its vaunted offense. The result was a 113-95 victory over the Dons before a crowd of 3,286 at Gersten Pavilion.

The Lions’ pressure defense helped them overcome an early deficit and win their 16th consecutive regular-season conference game.

Loyola is 7-5 overall, USF 8-6.

Hank Gathers led Loyola with 36 points. Enoch Simmons scored 20 and Jeff Fryer 17, including 2 3-pointers late in the game that helped put it away.

Forward Joel DeBortoli led USF with 30 points, including 21 in the second half, but star center Mark McCathrion had a subpar 6 points.

“I didn’t like the pace of the game, especially the first 8 or 9 minutes,� Loyola Coach Paul Westhead said. “We had to do it off our defense. Pressure defense makes sure we get enough (offensive) runs. When you press, you neutralize the star (McCathrion).�

USF was coming off an upset of Notre Dame in which it turned the ball over only 8 times. The Lions forced 25 turnovers, 15 after halftime. They outscored USF, 64-56, in the second half, a margin more to their liking.

“Their pressure bothered us, no question about it,� Don Coach Jim Brovelli said. “We made a little run, then they hit the 3-pointers that put it away. They forced us to make the mistakes.�

USF had control for much of the first half. Loyola lost a 20-13 lead as the Dons went ahead, 25-24, on Scott McWhorter’s 18-foot jumper. McWhorter’s rebound shot made it 27-24.

That seemed to stimulate the Lions, whose press began to force turnovers and produce fast-break baskets.

Paced by Gathers and Simmons, the Lions went on a 17-6 run to gain a 43-33 lead with 1:39 left in the half. Simmons had 10 points in the span.

The Lions maintained the double-figure lead at halftime, 49-39, a relatively modest output for them. Gathers had 16 points and Simmons 13.

But the tempo picked up in the second half behind Loyola’s defense. The Lions opened the half with a 14-8 run and were ahead, 63-47, just 4 minutes into the half.

The lead increased to 85-63 as Loyola began connecting on 3-point shots--with 6 after halftime--and the Dons continued to make turnovers. Loyola broke 100 points with 2:44 left.

“Not bad for an opener,� Westhead said.

The Lions play host to Santa Clara at 7:30 tonight in a matchup of two conference favorites.