Dec. 21, 2009

Box Score

Audio Highlights via LMU Podcast Center
Postgame Quotes from LMU Podcast Center

LOS ANGELES, Calif - LMU men's basketball made it three wins in a row with an 85-80 overtime win over Long Beach State in an exciting up-and-down contest on Monday night, getting some more clutch long distance shooting for the second time in the last there games.

Junior Larry Davis hit a three-pointer with 15 seconds left to send the game to extra frames and then fellow junior Vernon Teel hit a runner with 1:12 left in overtime for the 14th and final lead change of the game to push the Lions over the 49ers in front of 2,074 at Gersten Pavilion.

"Larry showed a great strength of will in hitting that shot," said Head Coach Max Good. "He still isn't playing a 100-percent, and had missed his first three three-pointers. But like all good shooters, he drained it in the clutch." Davis assisted on sophomore Jarred DuBois' three-pointer with eight seconds left to beat Notre Dame on Dec. 12.

The Lions went just 1-for-14 in the second half from the three-point line, getting the one when it counted. They finished just 5-for-24 (20.8 percent) from long range and 45.7 percent from the field. For the second straight game the Lions' defense held an opponent to under 40 percent shooting as the 49ers hit just 39.2 percent.

LMU improves to 6-7 on the season, doubling their win total from last year and extending their first win streak since 2007. Long Beach State falls to 6-5 in a game that had 10 ties to go with the 14 lead changes.

"I am happy for the players," said Good. "Our schedule has been very tough and demanding, not only in terms of the quality of teams we have been playing, but in terms of travel. I think we have finally arrived at something with some cohesiveness and we really worked through ups and downs to pull this one out. It was a big win for us."

Drew Viney led the Lions with his second double-double of the season, putting in 18 points with 11 rebounds. Vernon Teel had 15 points and eight assists. Jarred DuBois and Davis had 14 points each. The 49ers were led by T.J. Robinson with 22 points and 18 rebounds.

Long Beach State took a 68-64 lead with 4:47 to play in regulation on a pair of Larry Anderson free throws. LMU cut it to one twice, but Robinson answered both times to give the 49ers a 72-69 lead with 36 seconds left, setting up Davis' tying three-pointer. Long Beach State failed to get a shot off in the final seconds.

The lead would then change hands three times in overtime.

LMU took the lead first, but Long Beach State responded with four straight to take the lead back, the final pair coming on an Anderson jumper with 2:03 to play. Viney would tie it at 78-78 on a jumper with 1:44 to play. The Lions then forced a five-second call to take the ball back and Teel would hit the runner in the lane to make it 80-78.

Anderson, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, was fouled but missed both free throws. The 49ers were then forced to foul, where Davis hit one-of-two with 29 seconds left.

After an Anderson lay-in, Teel hit four straight free throws to seal it.

"We have really been working on free throws, but nothing you do in practice can create a situation of hitting free throws in the final seconds to win a game," said Good. The Lions finished 16-for-22 from the line.

LMU will have six days off before traveling to Sacramento State on Sunday, Dec. 27. Tip-off is 1 p.m.