LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The Loyola Marymount Lions, riding a wave of strong non-conference play, will host the struggling Morgan State Bears in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball matchup on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at Gersten Pavilion.

The Lions (8-4) enter the contest looking to build momentum before opening West Coast Conference play. They are coming off a dominant 91-57 victory over North Alabama on Dec. 19, where guard Myron Amey scored a season-high 28 points. Amey, a key player to watch, is averaging 16.8 points per game and has been a consistent offensive threat, including a 28-point outburst in the team’s last outing.

Conversely, Morgan State (2-10) seeks to halt a difficult stretch, having lost eight of its last nine games. The Bears are reeling from a 94-64 loss at San Francisco on Sunday, part of a challenging West Coast road trip. Guard Alfred Worrell, the Bears’ standout, scored 15 points in that defeat. Worrell has shown high-scoring capability this season, with games of 25, 24, and 20 points, but Morgan State has struggled defensively, allowing 90 or more points in four of its losses.

The game presents a stark contrast in trajectories. Loyola Marymount has protected its home court with a 6-2 record at Gersten Pavilion this season, including notable wins over Ohio and Troy. The Lions’ defense will aim to contain Worrell and force others to beat them.

Morgan State, which opened its season with a win over Central Penn, has found victories scarce since, with its only other win coming against Niagara on Dec. 13. The Bears will need a significant defensive improvement to compete, having allowed an average of 86.5 points in their last two road games at California and San Francisco.

Following this game, Loyola Marymount prepares for a tough WCC slate, beginning with Saint Mary’s on Dec. 28. Morgan State continues its season with a home game against Penn St. Brandywine on Dec. 30 before opening Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play in January.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PST at Gersten Pavilion on the Loyola Marymount campus.