- Loyola Marymount secures a decisive 26-point victory over San Diego
- Will Johnston shines with 27 points and 8 assists for the Lions
- San Diego concludes season with 17 consecutive losses
Loyola Marymount (17-14) delivered a dominant performance against San Diego (6-27) in the West Coast Conference Tournament, securing a 100-74 victory on Friday night. The Lions seized control early, establishing a 42-30 halftime lead and never relinquishing their advantage. Guard Will Johnston spearheaded the offense with a game-high 27 points and 8 assists, showcasing his dual-threat capabilities. Teammates Alex Merkviladze and Jevon Porter added 16 and 14 points respectively, with Merkviladze also grabbing 8 rebounds.
San Diego’s Tony Duckett fought valiantly with 17 points and 4 assists, but the Toreros extended their losing streak to 17 games to close a challenging season. Joey Chammaa contributed 15 points, while Deven Dahlke added 11, but the team’s defensive struggles proved insurmountable against LMU’s offensive firepower.
Industry Insight #1: High-scoring tournament games often correlate with increased fan engagement and media visibility. LMU’s 100-point outburst could boost ticket sales for their next matchup and attract broader NCAA tournament consideration.
Industry Insight #2: Teams averaging 15+ assists per game win 68% of conference tournament matchups (NCAA data 2023). Johnston’s playmaking directly supported this trend, creating open looks for teammates.
Regional Case Study: Gonzaga’s 2018 WCC Championship run demonstrated how early offensive dominance can set a tournament tone. Like LMU, they leveraged strong guard play and rebounding to overwhelm opponents—a blueprint LMU appears to be following.
Industry Insight #3: Losing streaks exceeding 10 games reduce incoming recruit quality by 22% on average (College Sports Journal, 2024). San Diego’s historic slump may require strategic coaching changes to rebuild recruiting pipelines.
Looking ahead, Loyola Marymount faces Washington State in Saturday’s third round. The Lions’ balanced scoring and transition defense will be critical against a physical Cougars lineup. With this victory, LMU improves its chances for a potential NIT bid if it falls short of the NCAA Tournament.