LAS VEGAS -- James Batemon scored 29 points and made 11 of 12 free throws and eight-seeded Loyola Marymount rallied from 15 points down in the first half to beat ninth-seeded Portland 78-72 in Friday night's opening round of the West Coast Conference Tournament.
Eli Scott scored 12 points with 10 rebounds and four assists and Mattias Markusson added 11 points for the Lions (11-19), who face No. 7-ranked and top-seeded Gonzaga in Saturday's quarterfinals.
It was Scott's sixth double-double of the season.
Batemon's 3 amid a 13-0 run put the Lions up 50-47 and they led 71-62 on his free throw with 2:06 left.