Feb. 26, 2007

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, CA (AP) - Diamon Simpson scored 17 points and had 12 rebounds to lead Saint Mary's to a 63-47 victory over Loyola Marymount in the final game of West Coast Conference play Monday.

The Gaels (16-14, 8-6 West Coast) finished the regular season in third place and will draw a first round bye in the conference tournament Friday.

The Lions (13-17, 5-9) finished in sixth place and will play Portland in the opening round of the tournament.

Simpson made 6-of-11 shots, had five steals and blocked three shots for Saint Mary's. The double-double for Simpson marked the sixth of the season and the eight of his career. Wayne Hunter scored 13 points and Brett Collins added 12 for the Gaels.

Shawn Deadwiler led the Lions with eight points. LMU's leading scorer and rebounder Matthew Knight (16.4 ppg and 7.6 rpg) was held to seven points and five rebounds.

Simpson scored 10 points in the first half to lead Saint Mary's to a 29-18 lead at halftime.

The Gaels went on a 10-2 run to start the second half and extended their lead to 39-20 with 16:39 remaining in the game.

The Lions never got closer than 16 points the rest of the game.

After its first round bye, Saint Mary's will play the winner of the Loyola Marymount versus Portland game.