Romar Could Smell Victory, but Loyola Had Other Ideas

It will take several days before Pepperdine Coach Lorenzo Romar gets the disappointment of Saturday night’s 64-60 loss to Loyola Marymount out of his mind.

“You’re thinking 3-1, first place, winning streak, all of those things,” Romar said. “To lose it at home like that, it hurts.”

Pepperdine, 4-12 overall and 2-2 in the West Coast Conference, missed a chance to accomplish those goals after Loyola rallied in the last seven minutes behind point guard Jim Williamson to post its first road victory of the season before 2,473 at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

Williamson, the smallest player on the court at 5 feet 10, scored 15 of his 22 points in the second half and forced Pepperdine into a critical turnover in the final minute.

Loyola (5-11, 2-2), which led, 63-60, after two free throws by Tim Kennedy with 26 seconds left, snuffed the Waves’ last chance when Williamson tied up center Bryan Hill, who couldn’t handle a pass in the key from Tezale Archie. The alternating possession went to the Lions, leading to a free throw by Kennedy with 12 seconds left.

“Our inability to hold onto the lead was the key,” said Romar, whose team won at Loyola, 59-52, Wednesday and was looking for its first back-to-back victories of the season. “[The Lions] executed their offense well and Jimmy Williamson did a great job in the second half.”

And, Romar added, 19 turnovers “came back to haunt us.”

Williamson received support down the stretch from center Kenny Hotopp, who scored six of his 12 points in the last 6:32. Kennedy scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half.