Loyola Holds the Line Against Montana

Brandon Worthy made four free throws with less than a minute left and Loyola Marymount held on to defeat Montana, 65-62, Friday in the consolation game of the Great Alaska Shootout at Anchorage.

Worthy’s two free throws with 37 seconds left gave Loyola a 61-59 lead. After two more free throws by Kent Dennis, Montana’s David Bell made a three-point shot to cut Loyola’s advantage to 63-62, but Worthy’s two free throws with six seconds left provided the final margin.

Dennis led Loyola Marymount (3-1) with 11 points. Bell scored 21 points for Montana (1-3).

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Pepperdine center Will Kimble has left the team after being diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening heart condition, but Coach Paul Westphal said Friday it’s too early to tell if Kimble will play basketball again.

“He’s had one doctor’s consultation that was serious enough to say, ‘Hey, you can’t be playing,’ ” Westphal said. “But until all the second opinions and tests are in, I think it’s premature to make announcements as to what his long-term future is.”

Kimble, a 6-foot-10 junior, passed out and went into convulsions at practice Tuesday. Westphal said complete test results will not be available until next week.

The Waves (0-1) play UC Irvine (0-2) at 7:30 tonight at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu. “Everybody just has to play out of position,” Westphal said. “We’ve got to adjust.”

In addition to Kimble, the Waves are without forward Glen McGowan. The 6-9 junior is a potential replacement for Kimble, but he sat out the season opener and is doubtful for tonight’s game because he is still recovering from knee surgery.

Boomer Brazzle, a 6-7 senior forward, could move into the center spot, with 6-9 sophomore Robert Turner or 6-5 sophomore Alex Acker moving into the starting lineup, Westphal said.

-- Rob Fernas