The Loyola Marymount Lions suffered their first road loss of the season in West Coast Conference play, falling on Saturday night to the Gonzaga Bulldogs 78-59 at the McCarthey Center in Spokane, Washington. Kevin Pangos had 21 points and nine rebounds to lead Gonzaga (20-4, 10-2 in West Coast Conference play), who remains one game behind the Saint Mary's Gaels for first place in the conference.
The Lions (16-10, 9-4) got stellar play from their two leading scorers on the season, as Drew Viney had 24 points and five rebounds while Anthony Ireland scored 23 in defeat. The duo combined to make 17 of their 29 field goals (58.6%) and five of their 12 three-point attempts (41.2%), but the rest of the Lions shot just 18.5% (five for 27), including one for 11 from beyond the arc.
Elias Harris had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who swept the season series with the Lions. Gonzaga won 62-58 at Gersten Pavilion on January 14. Gonzaga, who led 40-30 at halftime, shot 51.9% from the field during the game.
The schedule doesn't get any easier for Loyola Marymount, who travels to face conference-leading Saint Mary's on Wednesday night, hoping to deliver the first home loss of the season to the Gaels.