| MATCHUP | San Francisco Dons | Loyola Marymount Lions |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 11-7 | 11-7 |
| Where | Gersten Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA | |
| When | Thursday, January 8, 2026 | |
| Time | 11:00 PM EST | |
| TV | CBSSN | |
The Loyola Marymount Lions and the San Francisco Dons will meet on Thursday night in a West Coast Conference matchup at Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles, California.
San Francisco Dons Betting Preview
The San Francisco Dons enter Thursday evening’s contest with a 10–6 win‑loss record, including a 2–1 mark in WCC play after a 74–64 win over San Diego in their most recent outing. The Dons have compiled wins over Seattle, Morgan State, and Loyola Chicago, while dropping games to Oregon State and Portland. In the San Francisco Dons 73-68 win over Portland three days ago, San Francisco guard Ryan Beasley tallied 14 points on 5 of 14 shooting from the field illustrating his ability to lead the Dons offense.
San Francisco is averaging 73.6 points on 43.6 percent shooting from the field and 33.2 percent shooting from three-point range per game. Defensively, the Dons are allowing opponents 69.2 points per contest which ranks 59th in the nation.
Junior guard Ryan Beasley leads the San Francisco Dons averaging 13 points on 42.7 percent shooting from the field and 81.1 percent shooting from the free‑throw line. Junior forward Mookie Cook provides the Dons a strong interior presence averaging 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1 steal and 1.2 blocks per game. The Dons balanced scoring and defensive consistency make them one of the more stable teams in the WCC.
Loyola Marymount Lions Betting Preview
The Loyola Marymount Lions enter Tuesday night’s contest with a 10–7 win-loss record, including a 1-3 mark in conference play and a 7–4 record at home. The Lions have amassed wins over Lincoln, Eastern Washington, Arkansas‑Pine Bluff, UTEP, Troy, UC Santa Barbara, and Ohio, while losing games to Florida Atlantic, Stony Brook, Saint Louis, and UC San Diego. Earlier this season, in the Loyola Marymount’s 70-58 dominant victory over the Ohio Bobcats, Loyola Marymount forward Aaron McBride tallied 14 points (6 of 6 shooting from the field), 8 rebounds and 4 steals showcasing his ability to lead the Lions backcourt.
The Loyola Marymount Lions average 72.9 points on 44.7 percent shooting from the field and 36.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc per game. On the defensive side of the basketball, the Lions are allowing opponents 69.6 points per game which ranks 68th in the country.
Senior guard Myron Amey Jr. leads the Loyola Marymount Lions averaging 14.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.7 steals per game. Junior guard Rodney Brown Jr. averages 14.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.7 steals per contest, while junior guard Jan Vide contributes 13.5 points, 2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Sophomore forward Jalen Shelley provides a strong presence in the paint averaging 12.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.7 steals a contest.
Why the San Francisco Dons will win
• Defensive edge. The San Francisco Dons are allowing opponent 69.2 points per game which ranks 59th in the country.
• Interior presence. Junior forward Mookie Cook is averaging 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1 steal and 1.2 blocks per game
• Momentum. San Francisco arrives at tomorrow’s game on the heels of a two-game winning streak.
Why the Loyola Marymount Lions will win
• Home court edge. The Loyola Marymount Lions are 7-4 at home this season.
• Star guard play. Myron Amey Jr. and Jan Vide combine for over 27 points per game.
• Quality defense. The Lions allow just 69.6 points per game which ranks 66th in the nation. Although the Dons have the edge here, the Lions are also formidable on defense.
San Francisco Dons vs. Loyola Marymount Lions Prediction
In my view, San Francisco’s defensive stability and superior rebounding give them the clear edge in this matchup. The Loyola Marymount Lions will have the home‑court advantage in this one which tends to help the team offensively. With that said, I think the Dons are the side to be on this matchup. For the reasons just noted, I am backing the San Francisco Dons plus the 1.5 points in this game.