Nov. 24, 2006

Box Score

Anchorage, AK (Nov. 24) - Senior Brandon Worthy did it again. The fifth-year senior, exactly one week after hitting a miraculous game winner over New Mexico State, hit a three-pointer with two seconds remaining to send the game to double overtime where the Lions pulled away from the University of the Pacific in the first semifinal of the 2006 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout, 88-85, on Friday night.

The Lions improve to 5-1 on the season, winning four straight for the first time since they opened 2003-04 with five straight wins. LMU has now defeated a pair of teams who went to the NCAA tournament a year ago in Pacific and Oral Roberts.

"Wow," said Head Coach Rodney Tention. "We played hard against a very, very good opponent. We never gave up. From the middle of the first half on our defense was the difference. It created opportunities for us."

Worthy is showing why many have him as a preseason All-American as he equaled a career-best 32 points on 10-for-16 shooting as his steal and layin with 26 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game at 65-65 and sent it to the first overtime.

"Worthy is our leader," said Tention. "He showed why once again tonight. He hit that three against New Mexico State to win that one and he did it again tonight. His shot tonight was big."

Then down by three after Steffan Johnson hit one of two free throws with 20 seconds remaining to make 74-71, the Lions worked the ball to Worthy, who got a screen from senior Matthew Knight to get just enough daylight to burry the three.

In double overtime the Lions scored the first four points and a jumper by Knight and a drive by Worthy to go up 78-74. Pacific, who has advanced to the last three NCAA tournaments, tied it at 78-78, the eighth tie of the game. Knight would hit a pair of free throws, followed by Worthy's pair of free throws to go up 82-78.

Pacific's Michael White hit one of two to make it 82-79 with 1:05 remaining. The Lions then made it 84-79 on a jumper by Derick Grubb thanks to a perfect pass by John Montgomery. However, on the next defensive possession, Worthy was called for his fifth foul with 20 seconds remaining.

LMU managed without him as Jon Ziri, Adoyah Miller each hit one of two free throws to keep the lead at two possessions, 86-82 with seven seconds remaining. Johnson would hit a three to make it 86-85 with just two seconds on the clock. Montgomery was fouled and drilled both free throws and they sophomore Corey Counts stole the Tigers next inbound to secure the win.

Knight finished with 16 points and Miller set a career-best with 16 off the bench. Grubb added 14 for the Lions. Anthony Brown had 17 points and 10 rebounds while Michael White had 20 and eight to lead Pacific. Johnson added 19 and Anthony Esparza had 14 and eight. The overtime effort by the Lions and Worthy overshadowed the work they had to do to get back into the game. The Lions fell down 23-6 with 12:22 remaining and managed to cut it to 40-31 at the break. They then trailed by 14, 53-39, with 16:16 remaining when Johnson hit a lay-up in transition.

However, like they have done several times already this season, the Lions clamped down on defense as Pacific did not get another field goal until 4:10 remaining in the regulation. Until then, the Lions went on a 22-5 run in a span of 12:06 to take their first lead since 2-0 when Worthy hit an old fashion three-point play with 5:06 remaining.

The Lions advance to play in the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout at 10 p.m. (PST) on Saturday, Nov. 25. The game will be on ESPN2 and on Lions' All-Access.