Feb. 17, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
The Loyola Marymount University men's basketball team will head out on their final road trip of the regular season when they head to the Pacific Northwest to take on the West Coast Conference leaders in top dog Gonzaga and current No. 2 Portland. First up for the Lions is the 19th-ranked Bulldogs on Thursday, Feb. 19 at the McCarthy Center in Spokane, WA. The game starts at 6:00 p.m., and can be seen on FSN West. The game will also be on KXLU 88.9 FM and LMULions.com.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Five newcomers on LMU's roster, including four true freshman, have been asked to carry the load for the Lions this season. And with injuries the freshman trio of Jarred DuBois, Kevin Young, and LaRon Armstead have been asked to play big minutes and they have become the heart of the Lions. DuBois, Young, Armstead along with sophomore transfer Vernon Teel have combined to play 3,045 of the 5,200 minutes played in 26 games this season, good for 58.5 percent. The group has also combined for 1,010 of the 1,433 points (70.4 percent) and 506 of the 855 rebounds (59.1 percent) this season. With the youth, the Lions have been rated as the 24th youngest roster in the country (according to Statsheet.com). All four players have logged a complete game this season and along with senior Corey Counts, the Lions have had five different players play all 40 minutes at some point this season. DuBois leads the group with 35.3 minutes per game, on pace to snap the record by a freshman set by Forrest McKenzie with 29.8 minutes in 1981 and to crack the all-time top-10 in minutes played per season. Armstead had a stretch of 108 straight minutes, running from the final four minutes against UALR to the second half against UCSB. DuBois did one better, playing 115 consecutive minutes from the Mercer game through 16 minutes of the first half against CSUB. Armstead is averaging 29.8 minutes while Young is now second on the team, averaging 31.7 after playing his fifth 40-minute game of the season against USF. Counts is third on the team in minutes with 30.3.
THE TEEL DEAL
After starting the season with a bang, sophomore Vernon Teel had to go two months without playing a game due to a broken foot. He suffered the injury against Notre Dame on Nov. 21, and did not return until the Portland game on Jan. 22. SInce then, he has played seven games and is averaging 16.6 points and 6.0 rebounds, grabbing 42 total boards, 23 of which have been offensive. This past weekend he nearly averaged a triple-double with 39 points (19.5), 16 rebounds (8.0) and 16 assists (8.0). In WCC play, he is ranked fourth in scoring (16.6 ppg), 11th in rebounds (6.0 rpg), 7th in assists (3.14 apg), 7th in steals (1.57 spg), and second in offensive rebounds (3.29 orpg) (as of 2/16/09). For the season he is averaging 16.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He started the season being named to the World Vision Classic All-Tournament team after averaging 19.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in the three games in Ames, Iowa. He finished with 58 points in the tournament, going for 23 points, six rebounds and three assists against UC Davis; 17 points, 13 rebounds and three assists against Iowa State; and putting in 18 points with nine rebounds and two assists in his debut against Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
YOUNG AND THE REBOUNDS
Kevin Young is putting together one of the more impressive freshman campaigns in LMU history. Here is a by the numbers look at what Young has done his rookie season:
• 187 rebounds this season, shattering the all-time freshman record in LMU history for rebounds in a season. Averages 7.2 per game, best average by a freshman in LMU history and ranked 4th in the WCC (as of 2/16/09).
• 84 offensive rebounds, 3.36 per game, ranked fourth in the WCC (as of 2/16/09).• 40 steals ranked third in LMU freshman record book and his 1.54 steals per game is ranked fourth in the WCC (as of 2/16/09).
• 32 blocks this season is tied for 8th with Art Claybion (1980-81) in the LMU record books for blocks in a single season by all players. His 1.23 average is ranked sixth in the WCC (as of 2/16/09).
• 4th double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds in the win over San Diego. It is the most double-doubles by a freshman at LMU.
• 19 rebounds against New Mexico State set a freshman record at LMU and it was the most rebounds in a game by a Lion since Ime Odouk had 22 on Jan. 7, 1994 against Buffalo. He added 16 points and 14 of his rebounds were offensive.
MAKING A POINT
Freshman Jarred DuBois has been quickly developing into the Lions' floor leader and as conference play progresses he doesn't look much like a freshman anymore. Here is a look at his numbers this season:
• 13.3 points per game is ranked 12th in the WCC (as of 2/16/09) and is third for a freshman in school history.
• 346 total points and 76 total assists is ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, by a freshman in school history.
• 39 points in the win over the CS Bakersfield snapped Forrest McKenzie's freshman record of 29 points set against San Francisco on Jan. 16, 1982. It was the most points by any Lion since Wyking Jones had 39 against San Francisco on Jan. 20, 1994. He has also had games of 28 (Feb. 12 against SCU) and 25 (Jan. 17 at USD) to rank No. 3 and No. 6.
• 0 was the number of points All-Big East performer Kyle McAlarney of Notre Dame had with DuBois guarding him. DuBois forced him into four turnovers.
• 84.7 percent (105-for-124) from the free throw line this season, ranked second in the West Coast Conference (as of 2/16/09). He is second in free throws made and attempted in the WCC and leads the team with 2.92 assists per game, good for 9th in the WCC (as of 2/16/09).
GETTING MINUTES
LaRon Armstead became the first Lion since Jim Williamson in the 1995-96 season to play a complete 40 minutes in back-to-back games. Armstead, who started the season averaging just 22 minutes a game at the Iowa State Tournament, is now averaging 29.8 minutes per game after going 40 minutes four times this season. Williamson averaged 35.7 minutes a game in 1995-96, logging 40 minutes in a 67-63 win over Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 16, 1995 and then 40 minutes on Dec. 19, 1995 in an 82-80 win at Hawaii. That season total ranked seventh all-time in LMU history. The all-time leader is Keith Smith, who logged 38.1 minutes per contest in 1984-85. That season he played 40 or more minutes in 12 games, including a stretch of three straight games of 40 minutes and three more times where he went back-to-back games with 40 minutes. If it wasn't for fellow freshman Kevin Young, Armstead's pace on the glass would be challenging the freshman record. His 133 rebounds this season is currently ranked sixth on the LMU freshman charts.
DEPLETED ROSTER
Five players on LMU's roster, which includes six newcomers and just three seniors, are now out for the season. Junior transfer Larry Davis (Seton Hall) and sophomore Drew Viney (Oregon) are redshirting the season due to transfer rules. The other three players out for the year are all due to injury. Redshirt sophomore Terron Sutton is out for the year due to a torn ACL suffered in practice this October, and Tim Diederichs, who had played limited minutes in the first three games, required surgery on his injured right shoulder suffered in the first weeks of practice this season. He will miss the remainder of the season and plans on applying for a medical redshirt. The third player in that group is Ashley Hamilton, who played in five games this season and will miss the remainder of the season with a stress fracture in his back. He will also apply for a medical redshirt. There is more. Leading scorer, rebounder and assist man through three games, Vernon Teel, broke his right foot against Notre Dame and had surgery Nov. 26 and missed two months of the season. With the injuries, the Lions have been down to seven scholarship players, two of which - seniors Corey Counts and Chris Kanne - earned scholarships this summer after playing as walk-ons the last three seasons. Current walk-on Griffin Reilly is the eighth active player and saw his first minutes of action at Arizona. The Lions added two more players to the roster in walk-ons Daniel Latimer and the newest addition, Wes Libuit, who joined the team on Jan. 18, and saw his first action of collegiate basketball against Santa Clara.
JESUIT SPOTLIGHT
Saturday's matchup between LMU and Gonzaga on FSN West is part of the nationwide Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project, using Jesuit basketball to raise awareness of Jesuit education. The Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project highlights more than 90 games this season between men's and women's teams from the 28 Jesuit college and universities across the United States. Each of the 28 is dedicated to strong academics and teaching women and men to serve others and live a faith that does justice. Jesuit, Catholic colleges and universities in the United States have more than 200,000 students currently and more than 1.7 million living alumni. The Jesuit educational mission began in Europe around 500 years ago.
LMU CARES
The Loyola Marymount men's basketball team has launched its community outreach program, LMU Cares, and has linked with Project Knapsack Inc., a non-profit organization that partners students in the United States with their peers in developing countries in an international pen pal exchange. Students on the African side of the exchange will each receive their very own backpacks filled with school supplies and other essential learning tools. LMU's participation is designed to foster cross-cultural communication between Lennox Middle School and Daniel Freeman Elementary students and their new friends at the Molalatandi Primary School in Soweto, South Africa. This month, members from the Lions will travel to Lennox and Daniel Freeman where they will deliver the letters from students in Africa and assist with writing the return responses. In March, Project Knapsack will travel to South Africa and personally deliver the second round of letters from students at Lennox and Daniel Freeman. In celebration of the new partnership, LMU Cares has donated over 1,000 pocket dictionaries, calculators, maps/globes, and brand new encyclopedias to students at Molalatandi.
BAYNO/GOOD
Head Coach Bill Bayno, who has been serving a leave of absence since Nov. 24, officially resigned from the position, Athletics Director Dr. William Husak announced Monday, Jan. 12. Husak also announced that Max Good, who has been the acting head coach during Bayno's leave, has agreed to a multiple-year deal to be the head coach of the Lions (For complete bio on Coach Good, see page 6).
Quotes From Bayno:
"Due to medical reasons and on the advice of my doctors, I am resigning from my duties as head men's basketball coach at Loyola Marymount," said Bayno. "I sincerely apologize for any disappointment this might cause the fans, the administration, the students and most importantly my players, their families and my coaching staff. I care deeply for them all and I will always be available to help in any way I can in basketball and in life. I would especially like to thank Dr. Husak and the entire LMU administration for this opportunity. Dr. Husak's support and guidance has been invaluable for both my personal and professional growth. Again, I apologize for being unable to accomplish the goals that we have set forth, but I still believe in the vision and I think LMU will still undoubtedly realize their championship aspirations. I wish the entire LMU family all the best in the future."
Quotes From Husak on Bayno:
"In his seven months on the job at LMU, Bill Bayno accomplished more than any coach could reasonably be expected to achieve," said Husak. "We are all grateful for his efforts and recognize the foundation he has built and the path he has established for our basketball program. The LMU family wishes Bill continued progress in his comeback from the emotional distress triggered by responsibilities associated with being a head coach. Bill Bayno will always be a Lion."
SCHOLL PROMOTION
LMU Head Coach Max Good announced on Jan. 20 that Myke Scholl has been promoted to Associate Head Coach of the LMU men's basketball program. Scholl, who holds a law degree from Maryland, has worked with basketball programs in the U.S. Virgin Islands, at the junior college level in northern California, with the South Africa National and Under-20 teams, the Senegal Men's National Team, with a professional team in South Africa and as a scout for the Detroit Pistons. Scholl, a graduate of Jesuit High School in Sacramento where he played for LMU alum Steve Smith, played at Sacramento State for two seasons before finishing his career at Ohio Wesleyan University and earning a double major in Sociology and History in 1991.
IT COUNTS
Senior Corey Counts made sure the Lions didn't go long without a three-pointer, going 5-for-6 from long range against Iowa State. He had another five three-pointer game against New Mexico State, going 5-for-8, giving him three games in his career to hit five in a game, hitting the mark while going for 21 points against Gonzaga in the WCC opener a year ago. Counts is 46-for-130 (35.4 percent) from the three-point line in 2008-09, moving his career total to 95-for-260 (36.5 percent) in his career. On the season, he is ranked 6th the WCC in three-pointers made per game (1.77) and 15th in three-point percentage (as of 2/16/09). His three-pointer against Santa Clara cracked the top-20 in LMU history for three-pointers made in a single season. His career three-point percentage entered the season ranked 11th. His 95 made three-pointers overall moves him to 11th all-time in LMU history past Per Stumer (1988-90). His 260 attempts is 11th, passing Cobi McElroy (1991-95).
SHOOTING TOUCH
Against Arkansas-Little Rock in game two of the three-game road trip, the Lions shot 56.8 percent from the field (21-for-37), 58.3 percent from long range and 83.3 percent from the free throw line. It was the best shooting performance for the Lions in over two seasons and ranks seventh overall in the last decade. The Lions held UALR to just 41.7 percent shooting (25-for-60) and out-rebounded one of the best rebounding teams in the nation by nine (34-25).
TAKE A GOOD LOOK
The Australian forward Marko Deric is the only senior on the Lions' roster who came to the Lions on a scholarship. He enters the game against San Diego with 108 games as a Lion (19th in LMU history), averaging 4.1 per game in his first three-plus seasons. Fellow senior guards Corey Counts and Chris Kanne are former walk-ons who earned scholarships this summer. Kanne is a fifth-year senior who earned his Business degree in May and is now in graduate school at LMU for Business Law. Kanne turned heads this offseason with his shooting and is expected to play more as he enters the Pepperdine game with 56 career games in three-plus seasons. Counts had a breakout year last season, starting 22 games, leading the team with 88 assists while hitting on 39 percent from the three-point line (37-for-95). Counts has played 85 games as a Lion. Take a good look at the seniors this season as Counts, Kanne and Deric will be the only three seniors in the LMU men's basketball program for the next two years as the roster has only one junior and that is redshirt Larry Davis.
HISTORICAL THREE
Since the three-point field goal was introduced in the 1986-87 season, LMU has had just one game where they have not had a three-pointer. Well, in the first game with the three-point line pushed back a foot they had their second, snapping a streak of 375 games snapped. The Lions went 0-for-8 against Wisconsin-Milwaukee, marking just the second time they went without a three. The only other "miss" came on Dec. 19, 1995 when the Lions went 0-for-6 in an 82-80 win over Hawaii. That game snapped a 271 consecutive three-pointer streak for the Lions. Heading into the game against Gonzaga, in the 673 games the Lions have played since the three-point line was instituted, the Lions have hit three-pointers in 672 of them. The Lions have never gone without a three-pointer in WCC play.
DEFENSE
It might not show in the record, but the Lions and zone defense has frustrated opponents. In the win over San Diego, the Lions held the Toreros to just 36.2 percent shooting from the field and 19.0 percent from the three-point line (4-for-21). It was also the lowest shooting percentage by any opponent against LMU this season. They followed that by forcing Santa Clara into 17 turnovers on nine steals, including seven turnovers by the Broncos' point guard. It started with No. 8 Notre Dame, holding first-team All-Big East performer Kyle McAlarney to zero points. The senior McAlarney averaged 15.1 points a year ago and hit 108 three-pointers (hitting 44 percent) and then went on to hit 39 against No. 1 North Carolina a week later. Freshman Jarred DuBois and senior Corey Counts held him to 0-for-7 from the field and 0-for-4 from long range, forcing him into four turnovers. The Lions then held Arizona's Chase Budinger to just 10 points in 27 minutes, more than 12 points less than his average entering the game. Then against Wyoming, holding the Mountain West Conference's highest scoring team more than 20 points under its season average. The Lions held Preseason All-American Honorable Mention selection, Brandon Ewing, under double digits for the first time in 21 games, dating back to the middle of last season. On top of that, the Lions held a Cowboys team that averages better than 48 percent from the field to 40 percent and 28 percent from behind the arc. Against UC Riverside, they limited the Highlanders to a season low 59 points on 25.9 percent shooting from the three-point line (7-for-27) while at No. 12 UCLA, the Lions held the Bruins to their lowest shooting percentage at Pauley Pavilion, 39.4.
TAKING ON THE RANKED
LMU has already played four games against ranked opponents this season as the second game against Gonzaga will be the fifth. The Lions have not played four ranked teams in one season since 1991. Notre Dame entered the Nov. 21 game against LMU ranked eighth in the Associated Press poll and ninth in the Coaches polls while UCLA entered the Dec. 17 game 13th and 12th in those respective polls. The game against Saint Mary's saw the Gaels ranked 25th in the Coaches Poll. Gonzaga was 23rd in the AP Poll in the first meeting and January and enter Thursday's game (Feb. 19) ranked 19th and was be the 96th meeting for LMU against a ranked opponent. The last win for the Lions against a ranked team was in the 1990 NCAA Tournament when LMU defeated No. 23 Alabama 62-60 to advanced to the Elite Eight. The game against Gonzaga on Jan. 24 was the 33rd time the Lions have taken on a ranked team since defeating the Crimson Tide on March 23, 1990.
FSN PRIME TICKET
The LMU-Gonzaga game will be the seventh of eight games for the Lions on FSN Prime Ticket and FSN West. The Lions and FSN Prime Ticket have agreed to do three of LMU's home games this season, including the Notre Dame game, Santa Clara on Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m., and the final home game of the season against Saint Mary's on Feb. 28 at 5:00 p.m. The additional games that FSN West will carry for the Lions will Feb. 19 at Gonzaga (FSN-West/6:00 p.m.).
RECORD SELLOUT
For the first time in program history Loyola Marymount played their home opener against No. 8 Notre Dame in front of a sellout crowd of 4,534, breaking the all-time Gersten Pavilion record. The record was originally set with 4,525 on Feb. 20, 1988 in a 142-127 win over Pepperdine. It is the 16th sellout in LMU history, just the third in a non-conference game and the first in a home opener. The sellout was the first since the Lions hosted fifth-ranked Gonzaga on Feb. 18, 2006 and joins Oklahoma and UC Santa Barbara as the only sellouts against a non-conference foe in the 29 years of Gersten Pavilion. In the second game of the 1989-90 season, the Lions had their first-ever sellout against a non-WCC foe when they drew a capacity crowd of 4,156 in a 104-101 win over UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 9, 1989. Then on Dec. 23 the Lions drew a standing room only crowd of 4,210 as the Lions fell to ranked Oklahoma 136-121.
TOUGH NON-CONFERENCE
When it rains, it pours never fit better. Playing with just seven scholarship players, experiencing a midseason coaching change and seven of their first 10 games on the road, the Lions have had to do this with a murderous schedule. The Lions' non-conference opponents heading into WCC play combined for a record of 116-71 (62.0 percent). In addition, this was the first time since the 2004-05 season the Lions have played at least two ranked teams in non-conference play. In addition, the Lions began conference play with the first three straight on the road and five of their first seven away from home.
LIONS IN OT
LMU is 28-42 in overtime games with the first overtime game coming in the 1926-27 season against California Christian College, a 16-14 win for the Lions. As for double overtime, the Lions improved to 9-1 with the win over Boise State in 2006, winning their sixth straight. The longest game in LMU history was a five-overtime affair against Fresno State in 1957. The Lions lost 92-90.
GERSTEN PAVILION
Gersten Pavilion, entering its 28th year, opened in 1981, and hosts men's and women's basketball and volleyball. One of the more memorable moments came as the Lions posted a 16-game winning streak that spanned three seasons from Feb. 25, 1987 through Nov. 28, 1988. In that span, the Lions posted a 14-0 mark at home in the 1987-88 season. On Feb. 20, 1988, during the winning streak, Gersten set the original attendance record with a standing-room-only crowd of 4,525 in a 142-127 win over rival Pepperdine. The Lions snapped that record this season against Notre Dame with 4,534. The Pavilion has also hosted the highest scoring basketball game in NCAA Division I history when Loyola Marymount defeated U.S. International 181-150 on Jan. 31, 1989. In addition, it served as host to the WCC Tournament in 1990 and 1997. The Pavilion opened its doors on Jan. 15, 1981 with a men's basketball 83-68 loss to Santa Clara. The Lions' first win came eight days later with a 66-62 victory over SMC.
NEWEST LIONS
Loyola Marymount men's basketball has three scholarships to give for the 2009-10 season, and have officially signed one so far:
• Given Kalipinde (G, 6-3, Episcopal High School - Alexandria, Virg.): A native of Zambia, Africa, he came to Virginia in the fall of 2007 and became one of the IAC's best players as a junior by averaging 19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, 3.5 steals and two blocks. He was named Virginia All-State for his effort. With his play this senior season, in which he has multiple 30-point games on his resume, he has been moved to the No. 27 rated shooting guard in the country by ESPN. On Nov. 7, 2008 he scored two goals and had an assist to lead Episcopal boys' soccer to the Virginia State Championship. He was then named MVP of the state tournament and then a week later was named the Virginia State Co-Player of the Year. In January, he was named USA Today Third-Team All-American in soccer. • Edgar Garibay (C, 6-11, Compton High School - Compton, Calif.): Yet another highly rated player from a local southern California high school powerhouse to join LMU, the 6-10, 240-pound forward was one of the top-100 rated centers in the country by ESPNU and was an all-conference selection after averaging a double-double as a senior at Compton. He graduated in May and is spending this season at college prep school in Las Vegas. Garibay finished his final season at Compton leading the team to a 24-6 record and a 12-0 mark in Moore League play. He averaged 13.6 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. Showing great touch, he shot 85 percent (142-for-167) from the field, including 6-for-10 from the three-point line. On the season he had 18 double-doubles, including nine straight to end the season. Included in that stretch was a 12-point, 26-rebound performance in a 63-48 win over Long Beach Wilson. His career-high for points came in a 25-point, 14-rebound performance in a 72-69 win over Roosevelt of Seattle, Wash. In that win he went 9-for-10 from the field.
- GO LIONS -
