SPRINGFIELD, Mass (AP) — Ashley Hamilton scored 16 points and Drew Viney added 15 to help Loyola Marymount hold off Dowling in a 78-71 win on Saturday in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Tip-off.
The Lions held a 41-31 lead at halftime, but Dowling outscored Loyola Marymount 18-8 over the next nine minutes to tie the game at 49-49 on a jumper by Jake Stevens.
Stevens, who finished with 13 points and 11 assists but had eight turnovers, made a free throw with 7:35 left in the second half to give Dowling a 56-55 advantage.
Hamilton followed with two free throws to put the Lions (2-2) up for good. Dowling cut the margin to one on Stevens’ jumper with 1:35 left to play, but Hamilton followed with two free throws and a three-point play to give Loyola Marymount enough cushion to pull away.
John Merchant scored 21 points, going 5 of 8 from beyond the arc for Dowling (0-2).
