Dec. 7, 2010

Box Score | Photo Gallery

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The LMU defense came up big once again, keeping an opponent under 50 points for the second straight game. This time, the Lions held Sacramento State to just 29.1 percent shooting for a 69-49 win on Tuesday night at Gersten Pavilion.

LMU's defense finished the game with 11 blocks, two shy of the school-record, seven steals, forced 14 turnovers and held the Hornets to 28.6 shooting from the three-point line. LMU's offense responded with its most efficient game of the season, earning 21 assists on 23 field goals, hitting 43.4 percent from the field.

"We have really focused on defense the last week or so, and the last two games we have really responded," said Head Coach Max Good. "Offensively, we really moved the ball well. To get 21 assists on 23 field goals, is pretty darn good."

Four Lions finished in double figures, including a career-high 11 points, five rebounds and six blocked shots be freshman Godwin Okonji. The six blocks is one shy of the LMU single game record set by Silvester Kainga on Dec. 2, 1998 against Cal State Fullerton.

Drew Viney played for the first time in two games and came off the bench to lead all scorers with 15 points, adding six rebounds. He finished hitting 6-for-10 from the field, including 3-for-5 from the three-point line, his best of the season. Larry Davis and Vernon Teel added 13 points each. Davis added seven rebounds, while Teel and freshman Anthony Ireland had six assists each.

LMU led by as many as 13 points in the first half, utilizing a 10-point swing from 20-17 to 30-17 beginning with 7:04 remaining in the first half and spanning a time of 4:44. Viney, who had 10 first-half points, got to the basket for a layup with 33 seconds remaining in the first to hand LMU the 32-21 advantage at the break.

The Lions continued to push in the second half, benefitting from 10 points from Davis. LMU outscored the Hornets 37-28 in the final period.

The current four-game homestand will continue with game three as the Lions take on South Dakota on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. Follow the game live on Lions' All-Access through LMULions.com. The game can also be heard on KXLU 88.9 FM.