Aug. 19, 2010

Day 4 Photo Gallery
Lions All-Access: Inside the Lions with the Freshmen
Destination Spain Homepage

MADRID - The city of Toledo, just 70km south of Madrid, is often called the "soul of Spain." Much of the hilltop city has not changed since its depiction in a painting by El Greco in 1597. The LMU men's basketball team spent the first part of day four of their international tour of Spain visiting the magical city, and then spent the last part showing some of their own soul in a win in their first game.

Leaving the city, vast plains with mountains on the horizon greeted the Lions as they made their way south. A vast farming region with the famous olive tree vineyards past prior to being welcomed by one of the older cities in Spain, complete with its existing Roman walls and remains of the original aqueducts.

Within the city were the Cathedral of St. Mary of Toledo and the Church of Santo Tome. The Cathedral is one of the three 13th-century High Gothic cathedrals in Spain and is considered to be the pinnacle of the Gothic style in the country. The Church was founded in the 12th century but was completely built in the 14th century.

Many in the travel party considered the tour of the "sleepy little town high on the hill" the highlight so far on the tour.

The Lions then added some highlights of their own in their first exhibition of the tour, taking on Asta Gestion Fuenlabrada ERA at El Arroyo.

LMU put up 102 points in a win that saw four players score in double figures, as the Lions totaled 24 assists "in a complete team effort," according to Head Coach Max Good.

All told 11 of the 13 players who appeared in the game scored, including 18 points by Vernon Teel and 17 by Drew Viney. Freshman Ayodeji Egbeyemi and junior Griffin Reilly added 10 each. Ashley Hamilton had nine points and nine rebounds, while freshman Godwin Okonji had four points and a team high 10 rebounds. Jarred DuBois led the Lions with nine assists.

The two freshmen played in their first game as a collegiate player and are featured in Ten Questions from Spain in the fourth Inside the Lions special from Spain. Included are highlights from the trip to Toledo and the win.