Know USF’s foe: Loyola Marymount

A look at Loyola Marymount, which plays USF in the CBI semifinals tonight at the Yuengling Center

Nickame: Lions

Record: 22-11 (8-8 in West Coast Conference)

Final NET ranking: 142

Common opponents with USF: Both teams played Georgetown and Ohio in the Jamaica Classic in November. LMU defeated Ohio, 65-59; and Georgetown, 65-52. The Bulls crushed Ohio, 73-46, and lost to the Hoyas in overtime, 76-73. Both teams also defeated Florida A&M (LMU won by eight, USF by 10) in late November.

Coach: Mike Dunlap (fifth season at LMU, 70-86)

The breakdown: Similarities abound between these two programs. Like the Bulls, LMU is enjoying a breakthrough season and its first postseason appearance since 2012. The Lions’ defensive tenacity also bears a strong resemblance to USF’s. LMU entered the week ranked 14th nationally in scoring defense (62.7 ppg), and has held 12 opponents to fewer than 60 points. In Monday’s 81-63 rout of Brown, they forced 20 turnovers and tied a season-high with 12 steals. Three guards ― senior point guard James Batemon, sophomore Joe Quintana and senior Jeffery McClendon ― all rank in the top six of the WCC in steals per game. Batemon (16.6 ppg, 3.6 assists) is the Lions’ offensive catalyst, but the X-factor tonight could be 7-foot-3, 261-pound junior Mattias Markusson (10.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg). A Sweden native with deceptive agility and a decent outside stroke, Markusson will pose another low-post challenge for a team that surrendered 36 points in the paint to an imposing Utah Valley club Monday.

Odds & ends: Dunlap’s sprawling resume includes one season (2012-13) as coach of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, who finished 21-61 after winning only seven games the year before in a lockout-shortened season. ... This will be LMU’s second journey to the Eastern time zone this season; the other was the Jamaica trip. ... Six-foot-7 Lions rookie Dameane Douglas (8.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), who made the WCC all-freshman team, hails from Hanford, Calif., hometown of former Journey frontman Steve Perry.

Brian Gregory’s take: “They’re battle-tested, there’s no doubt about it, and Mike does a great job. He won a (Division II) national championship when he was at Metro State. ... So he’s got great experience and those guys are well-coached. They know how to play; big, physical at every spot. It’s gonna be a big test for us, there’s no doubt about it.”