Loyola Marymount falls, ending three-game surge

For a half, Loyola Marymount was right where it wanted to be.

San Francisco changed that quickly in the second half with two pivotal runs that lifted the Dons to a 76-69 victory Monday night that ended the visiting Lions’ three-game winning streak.

San Francisco (11-15, 7-4 West Coast Conference), on the strength of 14-4 and 15-4 runs early in the second half, led by as many as 16 after trailing, 31-29, in the first half but had to stave off a late charge by Loyola Marymount. The Lions held the Dons to one field goal over the final eight minutes and were within 69-64 with 1:48 remaining before San Francisco made seven free throws over the final 67 seconds to secure the win.

Johnny Dukes scored a career-high 21 points for San Francisco. Jay Watkins had 17 off the bench.

Marko Deric scored 16 points for Loyola Marymount (12-15, 4-7 WCC), which played without leading scorer Matthew Knight, who had a concussion.

San Diego 97, Pepperdine 85 -- Ross DeRogatis scored 25 points and Nir Cohen had a career-high 24 to help the Toreros overcome a 17-point first-half deficit at San Diego.

San Diego (15-11, 5-6 WCC) trailed, 23-6, with 11:31 left in the first half. But DeRogatis and Cohen led San Diego back as the Toreros went on a 34-12 run the rest of the half for a 40-35 halftime lead.

San Diego increased its lead to 49-38 less than four minutes into the second half and maintained a double-digit lead for most of the rest of the game.

Marvin Lea scored 21 points for Pepperdine (6-21, 2-9), which lost its fifth straight game.