Steve Aggers

Ray Giacoletti, who led Eastern Washington to its first NCAA tournament, was hired Tuesday by Utah to replace Rick Majerus, who took the Utes to 10 NCAA tournaments and the 1998 national title game but resigned in January because of poor health. Giacoletti, 41, was 69-50 with Eastern Washington, taking the Eagles to the Big Sky Conference tournament title game in each of his four seasons. * The John R.

After more than a month of searching, Loyola Marymount will name Eastern Washington's Steve Aggers its basketball coach today at a news conference. Aggers, an assistant at Pepperdine from 1990-94, became the top candidate last week when Metro State Coach Mike Dunlap declined an offer to coach at the school. In his five seasons at Eastern Washington, Aggers was 51-82 overall and 32-46 in the Big Sky Conference, leading his team to the conference tournament in each of the last three seasons.

Loyola Marymount won't have to hear about that long streak of losses against Division I competition anymore. Loyola ended the streak at 32 games Tuesday night in Gersten Pavilion with a 65-56 victory over Cal State Fullerton. "We can put last year to rest now," said first-season Loyola Coach Steve Aggers said. "Now we can move forward." The Lions won only two of 28 games last season, but both those victories were against non-Division I teams.

Santa Clara 78, Loyola Marymount 70--Playing for the first time on consecutive nights, Loyola Marymount showed the ill effects late in the second half as Santa Clara fended off the Lions for the WCC victory before 1,494 at Gersten Pavilion. The Broncos used a key 12-4 run to break a 55-55 tie and held Loyola (5-10, 1-1) without a field goal for over four minutes to decide the outcome. The Lions cut the lead to one point seven times but never jumped ahead.

Gonzaga assistant coach Bill Grier confirmed that he has been contacted by Loyola Marymount officials about its coaching vacancy. An assistant the last six years under Coach Mark Few and 13 years overall, Grier said he expects an interview to be set up soon now that the Bulldogs' season is over after a 71-69 second-round NCAA tournament loss to Texas Tech on Saturday. Loyola fired Steve Aggers last week after the Lions finished with their fourth losing season in his five years.

It wasn't long ago that Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount was the rivalry in the West Coast Conference. As far as the Waves go, there is no such rivalry. These days, Pepperdine is battling Gonzaga for conference titles and NCAA tournament berths. . Despite a sloppy second half, the Waves dismantled the Lions, 84-59, before 2,007 Wednesday night at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Occidental, a late addition to the Loyola Marymount men's basketball schedule, was simply supposed to keep the Lions sharp as they prepare for West Coast Conference play. Instead, the Division III Tigers put up a fight. It lasted about 12 minutes. Loyola Marymount eventually wore them down and recorded an 81-55 victory in front of an announced 1,478 Wednesday night at Gersten Pavilion. Forward Keith Kincade and reserve Sherman Gay each had 14 points for the Lions.

Paul Westphal said he was worried before the game. "Scared to death," he said. The Pepperdine coach had reason to fret against San Francisco, which badly needed a win at Firestone Fieldhouse to stay in striking distance of the Waves and Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference. Instead, Pepperdine kept the Dons at bay, 79-72, Friday before 2,946, for its 11th victory in a row.