March 7, 2010

Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery

Audio Highlights via LMU Podcast Center
Postgame Press Conference Audio via LMU Podcast Center

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - LMU and its impressive late season run into the 2010 Zappos.com West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Championships came to an end in the semifinals, as Gonzaga delivered an opening stanza haymaker and the Lions' late rally couldn't recover, as the Zags, who have been to the WCC final every year since 1998, return with a 77-62 win at Orleans Arena on Sunday night in Las Vegas, Nev.

The Zags hit 12 of their first 14 shots, finished the first half shooting 57.1 percent in building a 16-point lead at the break and never trailed. Gonzaga improves to 26-5 and will face the winner of Saint Mary's/Portland in the final on Monday.

LMU ends its run in the WCC tournament and falls to 18-15 on the season. However, thanks to its most wins since 1996, the Lions' season isn't finished. LMU is eligible for several postseason invitational tournaments and is expected to be playing come March 16-17. Information will be announced next week.

Steven Grey scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half to lead all scorers. Elias Harris added 16 points while Matt Bouldin chipped in 16. The Lions once again had four players in double digits, led by Drew Viney's 15 points and eight rebounds. He also added four steals. Vernon Teel chipped in 14, while Kevin Young and Ashley Hamilton added 12 and 10, respectively.

"First of all, I want to congratulate Gonzaga on playing very well. I thought our effort was good but we made six turnovers early in probably the first 7-8 minutes and we finished with 12 so I thought we did a good job after they hit us in the mouth early," said Head Coach Max Good. "And then when Ashley (Hamilton) got the two quick fouls it kind of took us away from having the post presence offensively. Gonzaga is a very good team and they showed it tonight."

It was a balanced attack for the Zags early as eight different players scored in the first half, including Gray's 14 points. LMU shot just 32 percent in the first half with eight turnovers to trail by 16, 41-25 at the break and after a free throw to start the second half, led 42-25."

However, the Lions showed their ever-growing maturity, getting the lead down to 11 multiple times, including a dunk by Hamilton that cut it to 54-43 with 11:29 to play. The teams would trade baskets and Gonzaga would take a 58-45 lead on a Harris jumper with 10:24 to play.

LMU would then score the next six points - a dunk by Hamilton, a jumper by Larry Davis and a lay-in by Young - to cut the lead to 58-51 with 8:06 to play. Harris would then hit just one free throw and on the next trip down, Viney would tip-in an offensive rebound to cut the lead to six, 59-53, with 7:21 to play.

The teams would trade Robert Sacre and Young lay-ups to keep the lead at six, 61-55, with 6:20 to play. Sacre would hit two free throws on their next possession to pus the lead to eight, 63-55.

LMU would answer by drawing a foul and getting to the line, but both free throws were off and the Zags came down and got a three-pointer by Bol King with 5:45 to play to stretch the lead back to double-digits, 66-55. It would kick start an 11-2 run that saw the lead grow back to 15.

The Lions second half rally saw them attempt 15 more shots than the Bulldogs as they finished forcing Gonzaga into 14 turnovers on nine steals. The Lions finished shooting 36.7 percent while Gonzaga went 52.1 percent.

Follow LMU on LMULions.com to see what postseason plans are ahead for the Lions.

"We'll go to the Dust Bowl if we're invited but I certainly hope so," said Good. "We need to continue to grow. We need to hit the weight room. First we have to get back to class and have a period where we can get back on our feet academically and then we can get in the weight room and continue to grow as a team."