LAS VEGAS – Evan Payne scored 19 points as 10th-seeded Loyola Marymount edged past No. 7 seed Portland 67-64 on Thursday night and advanced to the quarterfinals in the West Coast Conference tournament.
The game stayed within a two-point margin through the last 5 minutes with four lead changes and one tie until Nick Stover hit a layup and two free throws to give the Lions a four-point advantage with 12 seconds left.
Stover and Anthony Ireland scored 14 points each. The Lions (13-18) shot just 4 of 15 from 3-point range but went 19 of 24 from the free-throw line.
Thomas van der Mars and Bobby Sharp scored 18 points each for the Pilots (15-16), and van der Mars finished with 10 rebounds. Ryan Nicholas added 13 points and 11 rebounds as Portland grabbed 12 more boards than the Lions.
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