Nov. 20, 2010

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Redshirt sophomore Ashley Hamilton hit all eight of his free throws in the second half and finished with 16 points and seven rebounds to lead LMU to a 78-71 win over Dowling College in the first game of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Tip-off at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass., Saturday afternoon.

With the tip-off delayed 15 minutes and playing what was at 9 a.m., California time, the Lions were once again sluggish and were plagued by 21 turnovers. However, they once again dominated the boards, outrebounding Dowling 39-24 to improve to 2-2 on the season. Dowling falls to 0-2.

"When it came down to it, the team with the most heart, the team that played harder, did not win," said Head Coach Max Good. "Coming off two losses of two points, we should be coming in with more focus and more heart than we showed today. We have been rebounding the ball well, but we just have been giving the ball up way too much, and in the end that's on me."

Junior Drew Viney added 15 points and eight rebounds, senior Vernon Teel contributed 11 points and seven rebounds, and junior Jarred DuBois added 10. Freshman Godwin Okonji earned his first start and went for eight points, six rebounds and a career-best four assists.

The Golden Lions finished hitting 8-for-14 from the three-point line (57.1 percent) while hitting just 9-for-21 from the free throw line (42.9 percent). For the game they were 52.9 percent from the field, while LMU was 51.8 percent. The Lions went 3-for-7 from three (42.9 percent) and 17-for-23 from the line (73.9 percent).

John Merchant led Dowling with 21 points, hitting 5-for-8 from long range. Jake Stevens added a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists.

"We came out slow and sluggish and turned the ball over a ton early, and I think I compounded it with getting very frustrated, that one is on me," said Good. "I think it effected our play. I will get that fixed, but we have to take care of the ball."

Turnovers helped Dowling to erase an eight-point deficit and their three-point shooting helped them take a 55-53 lead with 8:24 to play.

Viney would tie the game at 55-55 with a lay-up on the next possession. Dowling would answer by hitting 1-of-2 from the free throw line to go up 56-55 with 7:35 remaining in the contest.

LMU would score the next five points, a pair of Hamilton free throws and a Teel three-pointer, to take a 60-56 lead with 6:27 to play.

Dowling would never let the Lions get much further ahead, cutting the lead to one three times, the last coming with 1:35 to play on a Stevens jumper, making it 72-71.

Hamilton would score the next five points, hitting a pair of free throws with 1:19 to play, and then capitalized on a three-point play with 35 seconds left to make it 77-71. DuBois added a free throw with 17 seconds left for the final margin.

The Lions will play Rider at 12 noon/9 a.m. (PT) on Sunday in the final game of the three-game east coast swing. The game can be heard on KXLU 88.9 FM and through LMULions.com.