Preview: San Diego Toreros at Loyola Marymount Lions

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Two West Coast Conference men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Saturday when the Loyola Marymount Lions host the San Diego Toreros at Gersten Pavilion.

The Lions (12-13) enter following an 84-75 road victory at San Francisco on Wednesday, led by a career-high 27 points and six assists from junior guard Jalen Shelley. Loyola Marymount’s season has been marked by inconsistency, with the win over the Dons snapping a five-game skid. Shelley, averaging 20.3 points over his last three contests, is the focal point of an offense that will test San Diego’s defense.

The Toreros (10-15) aim to rebound from a difficult 87-60 loss at Saint Mary’s on Wednesday. San Diego has alternated wins and losses over its past six games. A key performer for the Toreros is senior guard Toneari Lane, who scored 16 points in the loss to Saint Mary’s and had a 21-point outing in a 92-88 overtime win at Pepperdine on Jan. 28. Lane’s scoring punch will be vital for a San Diego team that has struggled on the road, going 2-7 away from home in conference play.

This matchup is the first of a regular-season series between the teams, who will meet again in San Diego on Feb. 21. Both squads sit in the bottom half of the WCC standings and view this game as a critical opportunity to build late-season momentum.

Historically, the Lions have dominated the series, winning the last eight meetings. San Diego’s last victory over Loyola Marymount came in February 2019.

Defensive execution will likely dictate the outcome. Loyola Marymount allows an average of 75.2 points per game, while San Diego yields 77.6. The team that can string together stops and capitalize on transition opportunities may gain the upper hand in what projects to be a closely contested conference battle.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026.