Loyola Opens With Record-Breaking Victory, 164-138

Loyola Marymount started Monday night by passing out rings commemorating last season’s West Coast Athletic Conference championship.

Then the Lions officially opened their basketball season by running rings around Azusa Pacific at Gersten Pavilion, 164-138.

A crowd of 1,897 saw a slew of National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Division I records broken:

--Most points by one team (Loyola tied the record of 164, set by Nevada Las Vegas in 1976 against Hawaii-Hilo);

--Most total points (the record was 275, set in regulation in the same UNLV-Hawaii-Hilo game, and 282 in a double-overtime game, involving UNLV and Utah State in 1982);

--Most points by a losing team.

It was also the second 300-point game in college basketball history, falling 4 points short of the record of 306 points set when Livingston beat Mississippi College, 160-146, in a Division II game on Dec. 2, 1969.

Loyola had six players in double figures, led by forward Hank Gathers with 33, guard Jeff Fryer with 27 and guard Enoch Simmons with 21. Fifteen Loyola players scored and only one played more than 20 minutes.

Guard Mark Moses scored a career-high 37 for Azusa Pacific, tying a school scoring record.

Lion Coach Paul Westhead took his first 300 game in stride. “It was the first game--you’re just trying to get a feel of where you are,” he said. “It was a nice time to see people we want to give some minutes. Actually we could use 3 or 4 more (tuneup) games. Our clock just ran out.”

Loyola’s next three opponents are UC Santa Barbara, Oregon State and Oklahoma.

The barrage started quickly, with Loyola hitting three straight 3-point shots and the Lions’ press not allowing the Cougars across halfcourt for their first three possessions.

The Lions led, 32-8, 4 minutes into the game and 68-33 with 6:19 left in the half.

By the time Loyola built a 82-58 halftime lead, it had 11 three-point shots and four of the starters had at least 11 points, led by Fryer’s 21 and Gathers’ 19.

Moses and forward Michael Benton combined for 34 first-half points for Azusa Pacifica. Benton finished with 21 points, and reserve Randy Wyatt scored 23.

Loyola broke 100 points at the 15:47 mark, and got its last points on a 3-point play with 20 seconds left by Tom Morley, a walk-on and the 16th Lion to play. The Lions finished with 16 three-point baskets and shot 54% from the floor. Azusa Pacific (2-1) shot 60%.