LOS ANGELES – The Beavers defense was not up to its normal form against the Loyola Marymount Universty Lions in Los Angeles on Thursday night, losing 82-61.
Going into the matchup, the Beavers men’s basketball team had won seven of their last eight games, and with one more win would have had their best start to a season since 1990.
However, the Lions would present a strong challenge to this goal.
LMU’s trio of Jevon Porter, Caleb Stone-Carrawell, and Will Johnston combined for 58 of the teams’ 82 points. Porter had 18 in the first half and finished with a double-double. Stone-Carrawell showcased to be scoring from everywhere.
OSU went down 0-8 to start the game, but head coach Wayne Tinkle let his team claw back, thanks to much-needed energy from the sophomore guard Isaiah Sy, who hit an important three-pointer.
Damarco Minor displayed nice mid-range scoring and handling of the ball. Minor had one impressive play where he rebounded over LMU’s Issanza, who is over a foot taller than him.
The first half was largely back and forth despite LMU maintaining the lead.
With 4 minutes and 30 seconds left in the first half, the game was tied due to Michael Rataj, who generated seven points and three assists in the first 10 minutes, finishing with 19 points, five assists, and an impressive five steals.
The Beavers had a scoring defense that was 15th in the nation entering the game, but in this matchup, the turnover margin was even. Much of the difference in the game was determined by LMU’s rebounding and assisting advantage that left OSU looking lost defensively at times.
LMU’s largest lead of the game, 23 points, came with five minutes remaining. The size advantage of the Lions also led to a large difference in points in the paint scoring, where LMU led 38-26. The Beavers ran a full-court defense with three and a half minutes to go but it was too late for any meaningful comeback.
Ultimately, the size, speed, and effort of LMU proved too much for OSU on this night at the Gersten Pavilion, and the Beavers would fall to 1-1 in WCC play and 0-2 on the road so far this season.
Oregon State will have a chance to gain some momentum back in San Diego against the Toreros on Saturday at 3 pm.