Dec. 22, 2010

Box Score

VERMILLION, SD - The script followed by LMU and South Dakota remained the same in their second meeting in 11 days, as the home team erased a first half deficit. This time it was the Coyotes, as they erased a seven-point first half deficit with a 50-points second half to earn an 82-70 win at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, SD, on Wednesday night.

Drew Viney led the Lions (6-7) with 16 points, 15 in the second half. Vernon Teel had his 10th career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Larry Davis had 12, and Anthony Ireland added 10, all in the first half. Louie Krogman led all scorers with 21 points for the Coyotes (6-7). Jake Thomas and Steve Tecker came off the bench to score 18 and 15, respectively.

In the first meeting in Los Angeles on Dec. 11, the Lions erased a six-point second half deficit for a 72-67 win in a game that featured 13 lead changes and 11 ties. This time, the Coyotes trailed 39-32 at the break but scored the first seven points of the second half as the game featured 17 lead changes and seven ties.

The Lion guards of Teel and Ireland, who scored 41 points in the first meeting, looked to be at it again with 20 first half points. However, they had just four points in the second half. The Lions, who shot 50 percent in the first half, finished the game hitting 44.9 percent. South Dakota shot just 33.3 percent in the first half, would hit 53.3 percent in the second half to finish 42.0 percent.

"We just didn't keep our intensity of the first half and let-up," said Head Coach Max Good. "And against a team that can shoot as well as South Dakota, you can't let up at all. They really took it to us in the second half and we didn't respond at all."

South Dakota also held a huge edge at the free throw line, hitting 17-for-26 (65.4 percent) while LMU was just 5-for-8 (62.5 percent). Turnovers also cost the Lions, as 16 turnovers led to 20 points for the Coyotes, who had just 10 turnovers.

Krogman's three-pointer less than three minutes into the second half tied the score at 39-39. The Lions, however, would respond, pushing the lead back to five, 44-39, on five straight points by Viney.

Thomas then gave the Coyotes the lead with 12:04 to play on a three-pointer, making it 49-48. Edgar Garibay gave the Lions the lead right back, 50-49. The Coyotes would then go on a 16-6 run over the next six minutes to take a nine-point lead. The Lions would get no closer than five in the final three minutes.

The Lions will conclude play in 2010 at UC Irvine, on Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. The game will be on KXLU 88.9 FM and LMULions.com.