Raivio leads big run that seals victory for Gonzaga

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Gonzaga point guard Derek Raivio has never had a stretch in college basketball quite like the one he enjoyed Monday night.

Raivio scored 13 points during a 25-6 run, including the final seven, as the Bulldogs (No. 8 ESPN/USA Today; No. 6 AP) beat Loyola Marymount 92-80 on Monday night to extend the nation's longest home winning streak to 32 games.

"Maybe in high school or AAU ball, but not in college," Raivio said of the first-half outburst that blew open a close game.

Raivio, who finished with 24 points, credited Gonzaga's defense with producing the offensive fireworks.

"We were flying around on the defensive end, which gets us out in transition, where we excel," Raivio said.

Adam Morrison scored 30 points for Gonzaga and J.P. Batista

added 25 points and 13 rebounds as the Bulldogs (14-3, 4-0 West

Coast Conference) won their fifth straight game. Morrison, who

leads the nation in scoring at 28 points a game, reached 30

points for the seventh time this season and for the third

consecutive game.

"Derek is capable of going off, as everybody could see,"

Morrison said of the junior point guard, who had not topped 20

points since the third game of the season.

Gonzaga's home winning streak is one game longer than those of

Illinois and Southern Illinois.

Wes Wardrop led Loyola Marymount (6-12, 3-1) with a career-high

31 points on 10-of-16 shooting. The Lions played a spirited game but could not overcome 44 percent shooting and 19 turnovers that

led to a couple of decisive Gonzaga runs.

"Tonight we didn't do a good job of taking care of the ball,"

Loyola coach Rodney Tention said. "The tougher team won tonight.

"That is our goal, to be as tough and competitive as they are

on a nightly basis," he added.

Matt Knight had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Loyola, while

Brandon Worthy had 13 points.

Up 53-44 at halftime, Gonzaga opened the second half with a 12-3

run -- 11 of the points by Morrison, mostly on drives to the basket -- to take a 65-47 lead. The Lions did not threaten again, although

Wardrop and Knight managed to keep it interesting.

The score was 12-12 when Gonzaga went on the big run to take a 37-18 lead.

The Lions mounted a comeback and three baskets by Chris Ayer cut

Gonzaga's lead to 41-31.

The teams traded baskets after that, with Raivio putting on a

one-man exhibition of long bombs and acrobatic drives to finish

with 22 points in the first half on 9-of-12 shooting, including

4-of-5 from 3-point range.

Gonzaga shot 53 percent in the game, including 6-of-12 on

3-pointers.

Sean Mallon, a starting forward for Gonzaga, left the game in

the first half after striking his head on the court. Coach Mark Few

said he would be checked for a concussion.

"This was a hard-fought win," Few said of the showdown between

the last WCC teams unbeaten in conference play. "We could never

put them away."

Gonzaga has won five straight and 21 of its last 22 games against LMU.

Gonzaga has not lost at the 2-year-old McCarthey Athletic Center.