Loyola Marymount vs Pacific 2/26/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Pacific Tigers will travel to Gersten Pavilion to take on the Loyola Marymount Lions this Saturday night in College Basketball action.

The Pacific Tigers lost their 2^nd straight game and dropped to 8-20 on the season after being defeated by the Portland Pilots, 75-69, this past Thursday. Pacific led by a 65-63 margin with 5:58 left in regulation, however, the Tigers struggled on the offensive end down the stretch and could not fight back after a 9-0 Portland run gave the Pilots a 72-65 lead with :38 seconds left in regulation. Pacific shot 40.7% from the field & 22.7% from beyond the arc while allowing Portland to shoot 42.9% from the field. & 34.5% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for the Tigers was Alphonso Anderson who had 26 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, & 2 steals.

On the season, Pacific is averaging 65.5 ppg on 41.1% shooting from the field. The Tigers are averaging 6.1 three-pointers per game on 31.8% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, Pacific has been led by Alphonso Anderson (11.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.2 spg), Jeremiah Bailey (11.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.4 spg), Luke Avdalovic (10.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg), & Pierre Crockrell II (6.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.2 spg).

Defensviely, Pacific is allowing their opponents to average 71.6 ppg on 45.3% shooting from the field. The Tigers have a rebound margin of -1.9 and a turnover margin of 1.1.

The Loyola Marymount Lions lost their 10^th straight game and dropped to 9-17 on the season after being defeated by the BYU Cougars, 79-59, this past Thursday. Loyola Marymount had no answers on the offensive end against BYU and could not fight back after going into halftime trailing by a 45-28 margin. Loyola Marymount shot 38.8% from the field & 36.8% from beyond the arc while allowing BYU to shoot 54.1% from the field & 36.8% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for the Lions was Alex Merkviladze who had 15 points & 8 rebounds.

On the season, Loyola Marymount is averaging 68.2 ppg on 44.9% shooting from the field. The Lions are averaging 7.0 three-pointers per game on 33.5% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, Loyola Marymount has been led by Eli Scott (16.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.2 apg), Joe Quintana (12.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.1 spg), Keli Leaupepe (9.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg), & Cam Shelton (8.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.0 spg).

Defensively, Loyola Marymount is allowing their opponents to average 73.8 ppg on 47.7% shooting from the field. The Lions have a rebound margin of -2.2 and a turnover margin of -1.0.

The Tigers are 3-12-2 ATS in their last 17 games, however, are 4-1 straight up against Loyola Marymount in their last 5 games. The Lions are 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 February games, however, are just 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 Saturday games.

Pacific has lost 5 of their last 6 games, however, the Tigers have played better basketball as of late with competitive losses to USC & Portland while also picking up a 69-68 win over Loyola Marymount last week. Loyola Marymount has struggled on both ends of the court, especially on the defensive end where the Lions rank just 289^th in scoring defense, 340^th in defensive FG%, & 268^th in rebound margin and as I think this will be another game that comes down to the final possession, I’m taking Pacific and the points. Good Luck!