Gonzaga Shuts Down Loyola Rally, 72-68

Loyola Marymount came back from a 12-point deficit with 3:25 to play on the strength of 16 second-half points by junior guard Keith Smith, but Gonzaga held on for a 72-68 victory in a West Coast Athletic Conference basketball game Saturday night at Spokane, Wash.

Loyola (9-9 overall, 1-2 in the WCAC) outscored Gonzaga (13-5, 3-1), 10-1, in a span of 2:20 to move within three points, 65-62. But the Bulldogs pulled away, hitting four of the next five attempts from the free-throw line.

Smith finished with 20 points, while forward Jason Van Nort led Gonzaga with 19.