LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The Pacific men's basketball team embarks on a new journey as the Tigers take on Loyola Marymount on Thursday, March 3 in the first round of the West Coast Conference Tournament at the Orleans Arena.

The Tigers, fresh off completing the 2021-22 regular season face-off against the Lions for the third time in five games. The two teams split the two meetings during the regular season, with each team recording wins on their respective home courts. 

Pacific defeated Loyola Marymount on February 19, earning a narrow 69-68 victory at the Alex G. Spanos Center. The Tigers had three players score in double figures as Jeremiah Bailey led the way with 22 points. Bailey was crucial in the game, scoring 15 of his game-high 22 points in the second half. The senior from Fairbanks, Alaska, recorded one of his best performances of the season as he shot 56.3 percent from the floor (nine-for-16), connected on one of his three three-point attempts, and tallied eight of the team's 31 rebounds. 

Luke Avdalovic also scored in double figures in the win over the Lions, tallying 17 points, and led the team in made three-point baskets. Avdalovic had a career game on the defensive side of the ball, tallying two blocks to lead the team.

The Tigers held a first-half lead in the second meeting before the Lions scored 55 second-half points to earn a 90-77 victory at the Gersten Pavilion on February 26. Alphonso Anderson came alive during the second half and led the team with 13 second-half points. In his final regular-season game for the Tigers, Anderson finished the game with a team-high 19 points and tallied seven of the team's 30 rebounds. The senior from Tacoma, Wash., has recorded 10 or more points in six of the last eight games and has reached his highest scoring average of the season at 12.0 points per game.

Pacific is looking for its second West Coast Conference Tournament win since rejoining the conference in 2013. The last time the Tigers recorded a victory in the conference tournament, the team came back from behind to defeat Pepperdine, 89-84, on March 3, 2017. The Tigers were led by Ray Bowles' team-high 26 points while Anthony Townes, T.J. Wallace, Tonko Vuko, and Jack Williams all scored in double figures.

Tip-off at the Orleans Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m., and fans not in attendance can find the game on multiple outlets, including BYUtv, NBC Sports California, Bally's SoCal, Bally's San Diego, Root Sports NW, and the WCC Network.

For more information regarding the WCC Tournament, visit Tournament Central at WCCSports.com.