Loyola Marymount edges past Portland 67-64 in WCC

Mar 7, 2014, 01:06 am

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.

The Lions will face No. 2 seed BYU on Saturday.