Loyola Marymount ends 6-game skid; beats DePaul

Dec 25, 2014, 04:05 pm

HONOLULU -- Evan Payne scored 24 points to lead Loyola Marymount past DePaul 72-69 on Thursday in the seventh-place game of the Diamond Head Classic.

Payne cut to the basket for an open layup with 2:54 left for a 63-59 lead and hit a 3-pointer on LMU's next possession for a seven-point advantage.

Loyola Marymount (4-8) broke a six-game losing streak and DePaul (6-7) had its skid reach six.

Ayodeji Egbeyemi scored 20 points, including 4 of 4 free throws in the final minute, for Loyola Marymount. Godwin Okonji added 13.

Billy Garrett Jr. led a balanced DePaul attack with 16 points. Jamee Crockett had 15, Durrell McDonald and Tommy Hamilton IV 12 apiece, and Myke Henry 10.

Garrett hit a 3-pointer with 11:41 left for a 47-44 lead, but the Blue Demons didn't hit another field goal until Myke Henry's basket with 5:57 left that cut it to 59-52.