
Loyola Marymount
(+7.5)

San Francisco
(-7.5)
Highlights
Extended Summary
SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) — In a West Coast Conference clash defined by contrasting offensive philosophies, the Loyola Marymount Lions parlayed efficient shooting and a dynamic performance from Jalen Shelley into an 84-75 road victory over the San Francisco Dons on Wednesday night at War Memorial Gymnasium. The Lions, who entered as heavy underdogs according to both the betting markets and advanced statistical projections, improved to 12-13 overall by snapping a three-game losing streak. San Francisco, which had been installed as a 7.5-point favorite, fell to 14-11. The game’s decisive dynamic was established early and persisted throughout. Loyola Marymount executed its half-court offense with precision, shooting 48.3% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range. San Francisco, conversely, struggled mightily to score from the floor, connecting on just 32% of its field goal attempts and 28.6% from beyond the arc. The Dons kept the contest within reach almost exclusively through a parade to the free-throw line, where they converted 37 of 42 attempts. Loyola Marymount seized control with a blistering start, opening the game on a 10-0 run fueled by baskets from Rodney Brown, Jalen Shelley and Aaron McBride. The Lions’ lead ballooned to 17 points in the first half as they consistently found clean looks against the San Francisco defense. Myron Amey Jr. provided a critical spark off the bench, hitting three first-half three-pointers to help the Lions take a 37-32 lead into halftime despite a late flurry from the Dons. The second half saw San Francisco, led by the relentless scoring of Ryan Beasley, repeatedly chip away at the deficit. The Dons used the free-throw line to methodically close the gap, drawing within a single possession on multiple occasions. Each time, however, Loyola Marymount had an answer, usually from Shelley or Brown. The most critical sequence came with just over seven minutes remaining and Loyola Marymount clinging to a 57-55 lead. After a San Francisco turnover, Shelley found Rodney Brown for a clutch three-pointer to push the lead back to five. Following a pair of Beasley free throws, Shelley then drew a foul and sank two of his own. On the ensuing possession, he drove for a layup to cap a personal 7-2 run that extended the Lions’ advantage to 64-57, a cushion they would not relinquish. San Francisco’s final push was hampered by its continued inability to make a field goal in crucial moments. In the last four minutes, the Dons managed only two made baskets from the floor, relying on free throws to stay close until the Lions sealed the game at the line in the final seconds. Jalen Shelley led all Lions with a masterful 27-point, six-assist performance, orchestrating the offense and scoring at key junctures. Rodney Brown added 23 points, while Aaron McBride contributed 10 points and two blocks. For San Francisco, Ryan Beasley shouldered the offensive load, scoring a game-high 30 points, with 14 of those coming from the free-throw line. Junjie Wang provided 19 points for the Dons. The Lions dominated key statistical areas, outscoring the Dons 36-20 in the paint and 15-10 off turnovers. Their offensive rating of 115.1 on 73 possessions starkly outperformed San Francisco’s 110.4 on 68 possessions, underscoring the efficiency gap that decided the game. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Loyola Marymount over San Francisco, following a double-overtime win at home on Jan. 8. The Lions will look to build on the momentum Saturday when they host San Diego. San Francisco, meanwhile, must regroup quickly for a pivotal road test at Saint Mary’s on Saturday. An announced crowd of 1,878 at War Memorial Gymnasium saw the total points of 159 surpass the pregame over/under line of 143.