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     The University of Portland heads to Southern California to continue West Coast Conference men’s basketball action. The Pilots (11-7, 2-1) will face Loyola Marymount on Thursday with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. Portland won two home games last week, knocking of San Francisco (78-60) and Santa Clara (53-52). The Lions (1-18, 0-3) dropped a pair of road contests at No. 25 Saint Mary’s (78-53) and San Diego (70-59).

Game Coverage

     The game will be televised live nationally on ESPNU. Steve Physioc and Krista Blunk will call the action. All UP games are also on the radio at 970 AM and simulcast live at portlandpilots.com.

About The Pilots

     Portland (11-7, 2-1) improved to 8-1 this season at the Chiles Center with wins over San Francisco (78-60) and Santa Clara (53-52) last week. Sophomore G Jared Stohl set a new school record with nine three-pointers made and the team matched a program mark with 14 treys against USF. The Pilots relinquished a 17-point second half lead against the Broncos, but held on for the win behind junior G Nik Raivio’s 16 points and nine rebounds.Junior F Ethan Niedermeyer (ankle) missed the Santa Clara game, but is probable for Thursday.    

Raivio leads four Pilots averaging double figures and is fourth in the West Coast Conference in scoring at 15.8 points per game. Junior F Robin Smeulders is 13th in the conference in scoring (11.6). Stohl is 14th overall in scoring (11.6), but is fourth in the league in WCC scoring (16.7) early on. Stohl also paces in the conference in three-pointers made per game (2.9). Sophomore C Kramer Knutson is shooting 64 percent from the field to lead the league.

Junior PG T.J. Campbell has been a strong addition to the roster and averages 10.5 points and 5.1 assists. A Glendale (Ariz.) Junior College transfer, Campbell is among the conference leaders in six statistical categories.

Portland leads the WCC in three-point percentage (.385) and three-pointers made (7.7) and is second in assists (14.9) and rebounding defense (30.2). The team’s 79.7 points per game average is third in the league and 6.6 points higher than last year’s average.

Head coach Eric Reveno returns 80 percent of the team’s scoring and 87 percent of its rebounding from last year’s squad. Picked to finish sixth in the WCC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Reveno’s roster features eight underclassmen and no seniors.

One of the main focuses for the program throughout the offseason was improving in the weight room. The results are noticeable, as every player has either added good basketball weight or dropped pounds, if necessary. Reveno describes sophomore center Jasonn Hannibal as the “poster boy” for the strength and conditioning program. Hannibal dropped 30 pounds and reduced his body fat to below 10 percent.

The Pilots will be competing with perhaps the best returning core group of players in WCC basketball history. After a banner year in which the league sent a record three teams to the NCAA Tournament, 13 of 15 starters will be returning to those squads. Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s and San Diego are the favorites to compete for the WCC crown again this year as the league moves the WCC Tournament to a neutral site (Las Vegas, Nev.) for the first time in history. The Pilots play 11 games this season against teams that advanced to postseason play last year.

About Loyola Marymount

     The Lions (1-18, 0-3) dropped a pair of road games at #25 Saint Mary’s (78-53) and San Diego (70-59) last week and have had a year of adversity with injuries, a midseason coaching change and a rigorous schedule. In his first year on the job, head coach Bill Bayno took a leave of absence after a few games and then resigned midseason. Assistant Max Good has been elevated to permanent head coaching status. Despite a promising core of young players, the Lions have had four key players suffer injuries (Tim Diederichs, Ashley Hamilton, Vernon Teel, and Terron Sutton), limiting the squad to seven scholarship players over the last six weeks. Teel, the team’s leading scorer (15.5) and rebounder (7.5), has been elevated to questionable for Thursday’s game against the Pilots after recovering from a broken foot. Freshman G Jarred DuBois finished with 25 points to lead all players in the Lions’ setback versus San Diego. Earlier this year DuBois dropped 39 against Cal State Bakersfield, LMU’s lone victory on the year. DuBois is averaging 13.7 ppg, including double figures in the last seven contests. Fellow freshman LaRon Armstead adds 10.1 ppg, while freshman F Kevin Young contributes 7.5 points and 6.7 rebounds.

Portland-Loyola Marymount Series Notes

All-Time: LMU leads 41-36                               

At LMU: LMU leads 23-11                                 

At UP: UP leads 23-14                                       

At Neutral: LMU leads 4-2

Current Streak: POR, 1 win                               

Last Five: UP leads 3-2                                     

Last Meeting: Portland 74, LMU 63 (2/9/08, at Portland)