LOGAN, Utah (AP) -- Matthew Knight scored 19 points, six in the final three minutes of the game, to lead Loyola Marymount past the University of Northern Arizona 69-64 in the first round of the Gossner Foods Holiday Classic Wednesday night.
Knight, leading scorer for the Lions (8-3), put in a rebound basket with the scored tied at 60, then followed with two free throws and a second tip-in basket to push Loyola past the Lumberjacks of NAU (6-6).
Knight also gathered a game-high 12 rebounds and Chris Ayer scored 10 for the Lions.
NAU was led in scoring by DeJuan Stevens with 17 on 6-of-12 shooting, and Kelly Golob with 13.
Kyle Feuerbach of NAU scored a three-point shot and was fouled with 2:16 left in the game, tying the game at 64 after a successful free throw, but the Lumberjacks were unable to score again.
The Lumberjacks led most of the first half, but Loyola's Jon Ziri tied the game at 24 with a 3-pointer with 3:45 left in the half. NAU went on an 8-0 run to end the half ending with a 38-30 halftime lead.
Loyola Marymount will face the winner of the contest between host Utah State and South Carolina State in the tournament championship game Thursday night.
