Loyola Ends Division I Loss Streak

Loyola Marymount won’t have to hear about that long streak of losses against Division I competition anymore.

Loyola ended the streak at 32 games Tuesday night in Gersten Pavilion with a 65-56 victory over Cal State Fullerton.

“We can put last year to rest now,” said first-season Loyola Coach Steve Aggers said. “Now we can move forward.”

The Lions won only two of 28 games last season, but both those victories were against non-Division I teams. Their only previous victory this season was against Vanguard, an NAIA team, in their opener at home. The Lions hadn’t beaten a Division I team since a victory over Portland in February 1999.

Phillip Czernin scored a career-high 17 points to lead Loyola (2-4). The Lions also got a solid effort from center Pablo Machado, who scored 12 points and had seven rebounds.

Fullerton (1-4) had 12 turnovers to eight for Loyola in the first half and finished with 20. Loyola made 26 of 37 free throws to 13 of 18 for the Titans.

Fullerton’s Matt Caldwell and Ike Harmon spent considerable time on the bench in the first half because of early foul trouble.

Harmon played only seven minutes in the first half and was scoreless. He finished with 12 points. Caldwell played only five minutes in the first half. He finished with seven points.