LMU halts Gonzaga’s 76-game home win streak

SPOKANE, Wash.– Web cam Shelton banked in a consent runner with 13 seconds left and Loyola Marymount snapped No. 6 Gonzaga’s 76-game house winning streak with a 68-67 success Thursday night.The house streak

for the Bulldogs (16-4, 5-1 West Coast Conference )had been the 8th longest in Department I history. It consisted of a Nov. 20 win over Kentucky in a neutral-site game at Spokane Arena, which the NCAA considered a house game for Gonzaga.Shelton scored 27 points to lead the Lions( 14-7, 4-3 ), who had

n’t won in Spokane since 1991 and had lost 25 directly to the Zags.”For us, it’s another indication that our program is moving in the best

instructions, and that’s the biggest thing,”Loyola Marymount coach Stan Johnson stated. “Few people are going to show up here and win, so I think it just stands and verifies the men we have in the locker room and all the things we’ve been trying to accomplish. “Gonzaga had won 83 straight games against unranked opponents with 46 of those coming at home.” The house streak is over,” Zags coach Mark Couple of stated.”It was going to end sometime and it ended in a difficult, hard-fought fight. Our people fought back and took a crack at to keep it going. … I do not think anyone is going to touch that [streak] for quite a long time.”The Bulldogs’streak of 36 straight wins in the month of January likewise ended. They had won 11 straight general considering that losing to Baylor on Dec. 2. Jalin Anderson included 15 points and Keli Leaupepe had 11 for the Lions. Loyola

Marymount led by as many as 9 in the second half and held off Gonzaga’s late run.LMU led 66-59 with 2:55 left after Shelton’s 3-pointer, however the Zags scored the next eight indicate take a 67-66

lead on Drew Timme’s free throw with 41 seconds left. With the shot clock running down, Shelton converted a runner from just outside the lane to offer the Lions the lead, and Timme’s last effort at a winner was partly obstructed by Leaupepe.Shelton’s savvy play was essential for the Lions in the closing minutes. “Webcam’s had an actually tremendous year thus far and I thought he put pressure on them getting in the paint,” Johnson stated. “I believed he made some great decisions finding his people and I believed he had fantastic poise, which’s what you want from a veteran point player.” Timme led the Zags with 17 points. Nolan Hickman broke in 12 points and six assists for the Zags, who were coming off a 115-75 win over Portland on Saturday.Gonzaga struggled from the field, shooting 44.4%general and going 4-of-14 (28.6 %)from 3-point variety and 15-of-23 (65.2 %)from the free throw line.The Associated Press contributed to this report.