clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

WCC Tournament First Round: Loyola Marymount takes down Portland, 65-54

The third time's a charm for LMU, as the Lions take down Portland 65-54 after only winning one game during the WCC regular season.

USA TODAY Sports

When you enter the tournament with only one conference win, your motivation could be called into question. If you roll over, no one will consider it anything more than a matter of course. But the Lions of Loyola Marymount wrote a different story, playing one of their best games of the season to beat the Portland Pilots, 65-54.

Fifth-year senior Ashley Hamilton led the way for the Lions, pouring in 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, adding 8 boards and a pair of steals. Anthony Ireland, the 5-10 guard from Connecticut, added 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

For the Lions, the win ends a 14-game losing streak (6 of which were by less than 5 points). But the season will have a different feel for the Lions, regardless of what happens Thursday night against San Francisco.

Portland was undone by 19 turnovers and a poor night behind the 3-point line (just 4-for-16). Despite the efforts of 6-5 sophomore Kevin Bailey (21 points, 5 rebounds), the Pilots couldn't produce enough offense to beat the Lions.