Jan. 27, 2011

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - For the third time in the last four conference contests and for the second game in a row, the LMU men's basketball team saw a win bounce off the rim and not their way in the final second, falling this time to San Francisco, 61-60, Thursday night at Gersten Pavilion.

San Francisco's Michael Williams hit a three-pointer with a minute left to lift the Dons to the win. The Lions missed on their next possession and then forced the Dons into a shot clock violation to get the ball back with 12 seconds to play for a chance to win it. Freshman Ayodeji Egbeyemi's jumper was off the mark as the Lions couldn't get off another shot at the buzzer.

The Dons, who erased a 17-point second half deficit, win their fourth straight and seventh in eight games to improve to 11-10 overall and 5-1 in the WCC. The Lions fall to 8-12 overall and 1-5 in the WCC. The combined total of the three heartbreakers has been five points.

"We continue to not do the little things down the stretch to keep us from picking up these wins," said Head Coach Max Good. "Once again we could grab some key rebounds and hit free throws. Like last week at Pepperdine, we hit a couple free throws down the stretch, it doesn't come to us having to hit a shot at the buzzer to win or tie. Its just very frustrating."

Egbeyemi had career-highs with his first double-double, scoring 15 points with 10 rebounds to lead the Lions while Rashad Green finished with a double-double, scoring 20 points with 12 rebounds. Moustapha Diarra added 15 for the Dons, while Drew Viney added 11 for the Lions. All 11 came in the first half has he played just two minutes in the second half due to migraines.

The Lions were also without senior Larry Davis, who had the flu and a 102-degree fever before the game. Senior Vernon Teel also was struggling with the flu and played just 21 minutes, 12 fewer than his average.

"Bottom line is once again we were in the position to win, and could do what we needed to down the stretch," said Good. "I know I sound like a broken record, but its where we are. Like I said, its very frustrating."

After LMU controlled most the first half, it was a game of big runs the first 14 minutes of the second half, creating a furious back-and-forth final five minutes.

The Lions ended the first half on a 6-0 run to take an eight-point lead at the break. Then after USF scored the first hoop of the second half, they rattled off a 11-0 run to take a 17-point lead, 41-24, with 17:32 to play.

Over the next 10 minutes, USF went on a 28-7 run to erase the lead and take a four-point lead of their own, 52-48, with 7:21 to play.

LMU came back with LaRon Armstead's three-pointer giving the Lions the lead back, 57-56, with 4:40 to play. Teel's putback added to the lead before Green's free throws with 2:07 made it 59-58, Lions. Godwin Okonji hit one-of-two free throws to make it 60-58 with 1:30 to set-up Williams' winner.

USF shot just 27.8 percent in the first half, including an 0-for-12 stretch from the three-point line. However, they hit 48 percent in the second half including four crucial three-pointers to finish hitting 37.3 percent from the field. The Lions hit 41.1 percent and went 7-for-11 from the charity stripe, going 5-for-9 in the second half. The Dons also used 13 LMU turnovers to outscore the Lions 15-0 on points off turnovers.

The Lions continue Homecoming Week 2011 when they host Santa Clara on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 5 p.m. The game will be the Hall of Fame Game and will also be part of Homecoming ceremonies. The game will be televised on Fox Sports West and on KXLU 88.9 FM.