Jan. 30, 2010

Box Score | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2

Coach Good Audio Quotes via LMU Podcast Center

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - On a night LMU honored the highest scoring team in NCAA Division I history, the 1989-90 Lions that advanced to the Eight Eight, the current Lions found out why Saint Mary's is one of the top scoring teams in the nation this season hitting 12 three-pointers to earn an 85-67 win in front of a near capacity crowd 3,966 in West Coast Conference action Saturday night.

"I thought we had great effort and great heart, but we just had a hard time guarding their three tonight," said Head Coach Max Good. "To be honest they have a four that stretches the defense in Ben Allen and three shooters who can hit from three and then add to that the best center in the league. They are a very hard to guard."

LMU was led by a combined 54 points from Drew Viney and Kevin Young. Both chipped in 27 points, which was a career-best for Young. The sophomore played all 40 minutes, added eight rebounds and finished the weekend with 48 points.

"You have to have some depth to really go after Saint Mary's to have any success," said Good. "I think the best chance to beat them is to press them the whole game. We obviously are not in the position to do that."

Saint Mary's entered the game ranked third in the nation in three point shooting and 12th in scoring and backed it up with four players averaging double digits and all four did the damage, led by Omar Samhan's league-leading 12th double-double, putting in 19 points and 13 rebounds. Mickey McConnell added 16, while Matthew Dellavedova and Ben Allen added 15 each.

Saint Mary's finished 12-for-27 (44.4 percent) from the three-point line, one make shy of their season high, and 45.6 percent from the field (31-for-68). The Lions shot 38.3 (23-for-60) and just 15-for-30 from the charity stripe. Saint Mary's was 11-for-16.

"I am very frustrated with our free throw shooting," said Good. "We spent all week focusing on it. Not sure what to do."

The Gaels built a 15-point halftime lead, 45-30, thanks to an 18-0 edge in second change points, grabbing nine offensive rebounds to just three for the Lions. Saint Mary's stretched the lead to as many as 23. LMU would get it to 16 on a Viney tip-in with 9:19 to play but would not get closer.

Saint Mary's finished with a 22-13 edge on second chance points and a 44-40 edge on the boards.

At halftime the Lions honored the 1989-90 LMU men's basketball team on the 20th Anniversary of their Elite Eight run.

The Lions will host Pepperdine as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. The women start the action at 5 p.m.