LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Portland sophomore guard JoJo Walker recorded his fourth 20-point game of the season, but Loyola Marymount hung on for a 76-64 victory Saturday afternoon at Gersten Pavilion in the West Coast Conference opener for the Pilots.

Walker buried all 13 free throw attempts and finished with 20 points, five rebounds and five assists to lead the Pilots (7-9, 0-1 WCC). Sophomore guard Marcus Shaver Jr. added 13 points, while sophomore forward Jacob Tryon recorded 11 points off the bench for the second straight outing.

Junior center Mattias Markusson finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Lions (13-3, 1-1), who improve to 8-0 at home this season. Joe Quintana had a team-high 19 points, while Eli Scott and James Batemon added 15 and 14 points, respectively.

The Pilots trailed by 13 at the half and 15 early in the second half, but used an 11-0 run midway through the period to pull within four. LMU answered and pushed the margin back to 13 points, but an 8-0 Portland run sparked by a Shaver Jr. three-pointer and five Walker free throws brought Portland within 67-62 with 1:40 remaining.

That would be as close as it would get as the Lions made their free throws to close out the win in the final minute.

Walker scored the first eight points of the game for Portland as the Pilots jumped out to a 14-12 lead, but LMU responded with a 12-0 run and would carry a 38-25 margin into the half.

Both teams shot 48 percent from the field, but the Lions capitalized on 17 Portland turnovers to gain a 17-9 edge in points off of turnovers.

Portland continues WCC play next week at BYU on Thursday for a 6 p.m. (PT) tip-off. The Pilots return home to host the Pacific Tigers on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets for that and all other upcoming home games are available at PortlandPilots.com/Tickets.