LAS VEGAS – Ashley Hamilton scored 21 points, Anthony Ireland added 12 and Loyola Marymount ended a 14-game losing streak with a 65-54 win over Portland in first round action of the West Coast Conference tournament Wednesday night.
The Pilots made it a two possession game after Bryce Pressley hit two free throws to make it 60-54 with 28 seconds left but Portland committed three turnovers in its final three possessions and ninth-seeded Loyola Marymount (9-22) held on for the win.
Hamilton was 8 for 12 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds for the Lions, which played Portland for the second time in three years and the fifth in the last 10 years in WCC tournament play.
Kevin Bailey scored 21 points to lead Portland (11-21) and Ryan Nicholas had 18 points and nine rebounds.
Loyola Marymount will play fifth-seeded San Francisco in the second round of the WCC tournament Thursday. The Dons received a first-round bye.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.