Loyola Marymount Faces San Diego in WCC Tournament Showdown

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The No. 7 seed Loyola Marymount Lions (16-14, 8-10 WCC) are set to face the No. 11 seed San Diego Toreros (6-26, 2-16 WCC) in the West Coast Conference tournament on Friday at 11:30 p.m. ET at Orleans Arena, with the game airing on ESPN+.

Loyola Marymount heads into the tournament after completing the regular season and aims to advance in the bracket, motivated by a challenging matchup against San Diego. The Toreros are coming off a tough season encumbered with numerous losses, including a recent 82-80 win over Portland.

The winner of this matchup will proceed to face the victor of the No. 10 seed Pacific and No. 11 seed San Diego game, scheduled for Thursday afternoon. The pressure is mounting as Loyola Marymount seeks redemption against San Diego after having lost both regular-season matchups.

Eric Olen, head coach of Loyola Marymount, expressed confidence in his team’s abilities despite their unpredictable season. “We’ve prepared well for this tournament. Every game is a new opportunity, and we plan to seize this moment,” Olen said.

Meanwhile, the Toreros, who have endured a tumultuous season, are determined to make a significant impact in this tournament. As the team prepares for the challenge, senior guard Hayden Gray plays a crucial role in defense and was recently highlighted for his remarkable performance during the season.

Despite their record, the Toreros are looking to build momentum and surprise their opponents in the postseason. “It’s win or go home, and we’re ready to fight for every possession,” said Toreros’ senior, Anawaniwa Tait-Jones, reflecting the team’s resolve.

In a parallel narrative within the conference, the No. 1 seed Point Loma Nazarene (25-5, 18-2 PacWest) enters the weekend’s PacWest tournament following a strong finish to their regular season, eager to secure a conference tournament title and ideally retain their No. 1 ranking in the West Region.

As the WCC and PacWest tournaments unfold, fans can expect exciting matchups that showcase the resilience and spirit of collegiate basketball.