We Are LMU Lions
college hockey in Southern California would slow- 1950s ly break apart. The 1950s started with one of best football seasons in school history as the team, led by future 1940s NFL star Don Klosterman, finished the season In 1941, the Lions face in-town rival Pepperdine 8-1, losing to Santa Clara 28-26 and missing out for the first time in the two program’s histories. on a trip to the Orange Bowl. Klosterman would They faced each other twice in the 1940-41 sea- go on to earn All-America honors in 1952. A memson, with Loyola winning both, 30-18 and 43-23. ber of that team, Bob Boyd, former Loyola football In that season, both Pete Newell and Phil Woolp- and track great, captured the 1950 NCAA men’s ert suited up for the Lions. The two Loyola greats track championship in the 100-yard dash. He later went on to become legends in the coaching pro- played seven seasons as a tight end for the NFL’s fession, leading college teams to NCAA National Los Angeles Rams, helping the team to the 1951 Championships. Both are in the Basketball Hall of World Title. The Lions men’s basketball team adFame. In 1948-1949, Loyola went on to its first 20- vanced to their first collegiate sponsored postseawin season, posting a 22-14 record under coach son tournament, competing for the NAIA National Scotty McDonald. The Lions would see their lon- Championship. The Lions posted a 16-9 record gest winning streak at that time of 10 games. The and were selected to participate in the NAIA Tourseason included the first game in Alumni Gymna- nament where they faced San Francisco State in sium, the Lions’ home until the 1981-82 season the first round. With a 57-56 win, the Lions moved when the Lions moved to Gersten Pavilion. on to face Southwestern (KS) in the second
round. Southwestern won, 83-79. Then in 1956, the Lions joined the California Basketball Association, which two years later formed the West Coast Athletic Conference. Loyola finished the CBA with a 9-5 record, second in the conference.
1960s In 1960, Loyola men’s basketball tied for first with a 9-3 record in the West Coast Athletic Conference. The title was shared with Santa Clara, who defeated the Lions in a playoff game to end the season. The Lions closed the regular season with eight straight wins. Then in 1961, LMU basketball had a record breaking season for the Lions, earning their second 20-win season, finishing 20-7 overall and earning their first-ever out-right WCAC title with a 10-2 mark. Loyola started the season 3-4, but responded with 17 wins in their final 20 games, including a nine-game winning streak. It was the Lions’ first trip to the NCAA tournament,
LMU BASEBALL MEDIA ALMANAC | 157