Loyola Star Gathers Dies After Collapsing in Game

LOS ANGELES--Hank Gathers, the West Coast Conference's all-time leading scorer and No. 11 on the NCAA's all-time scoring list, died last night after collapsing on the court during Loyola Marymount's game against Portland. He was 23.

Gathers was pronounced dead at Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital, where he was taken after collapsing with 13:34 left in the first half of the WCC tournament game. He died at 6:55 p.m. PST, a school spokesman said.

As a junior last season, Gathers became only the second player in NCAA history to lead the nation in scoring and rebounding, averaging 32.7 points and 13.7 rebounds.

A 6-foot-7, 210-pound center from Philadelphia, Gathers was forecast as a first-round selection in this year's NBA draft. He passed up the draft following his junior season.