Loyola downs Walnut in OT, will host game Friday

In a seesaw battle before a hostile crowd at Walnut High School on Wednesday night, Loyola's varsity basketball team defeated the Mustangs, 63-62, in overtime after guard EBO OTI hit a three at the end of regulation to send the CIF Southern Section Division 1A first round game into an extra period.  OTI and senior guard KHRISTION COURSEAULT each scored 13 points for the Cubs (17-9).

Loyola will host Huntington Beach at Leavey Gymnasium on Friday at 7:00 p.m.  The Oilers defeated high-scoring Long Beach Millikan, 78-69, on the road Wednesday night.  By virtue of winning a coin toss, the Cubs were able to secure home advantage for the second round contest against the third place team out of the Sunset League.

The last time Loyola played Huntington Beach in basketball, Tony Gonzalez of NFL fame played for the Oilers, and TOBY BAILEY, who helped lead UCLA to its most recent NCAA basketball championship, starred for the Cubs.  It was a CIF playoff game played in the early 1990s at Cal State Los Angeles before a capacity crowd.  Huntington Beach pulled out the win.  Loyola hopes to turn the table Friday.  An ironic side note - Gonzalez's son played on the Cubs' freshman football team last fall.