Jan. 31, 2011

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Playing their third game in five days, LMU came out the aggressor and pushed to an 11-point lead within in the first five minutes to set the tone for an 81-64 win over Seattle in a non-conference match-up on Monday at Gersten Pavilion.

Junior Drew Viney had his best production since the season opener, scoring 26 points with 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season and the eighth of his career. He finished the game 11-for-13 from the free throw line and 7-for-15 from the field.

Ashley Hamilton added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Lions (9-13), going 6-for-9 from the field and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. Freshman Anthony Ireland scored 10 points with eight rebounds off the bench.

Aaron Broussard had 20 to lead Seattle (8-14) while Sterling Carter had 17.

"We started much better tonight and for the most part we kept that pace for 40 minutes," said Head Coach Max Good. "This season we have put together stretches but then just disappeared in other stretches, just killing us. Tonight we did a good job of withstanding a run a good team like Seattle we make on you."

It was a physical contest from the start as the teams combined to shoot 66 free throws. The Lions finished 25-of-34 (73.5 percent) from the charity stripe while Seattle went 20-of-32 (62.5 percent). The Lions would hold Seattle to just 31.3 percent from the field while going 44.3 percent themselves.

The Lions jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first 4:30 of the game and never looked back as they led by 12 at the break despite shooting just 38.7 percent in the first frame. However, they held Seattle to just 26 percent in the half.

Seattle would cut the lead to just seven early in the first half, 40-33 and again 42-35. The lead would stay around 10, including the final time at 54-44. The Lions would then go on a 15-4 run to push the lead to 21 and put the game away.

"I liked how we stayed aggressive and continued to really attack the rim," said Good. "We did a good job of getting to the free throw line tonight."

The Lions finished the game with 10 blocks, the second game of the season in which they have had double-digit blocks (11 vs. Sacramento State was the other). The Lions finished the game out-rebounding the Redhawks 49-36, helping them to a 21-8 edge in second chance points.

There will be no rest for the Lions as they will jump back into conference play on Thursday, traveling to San Diego on Feb. 3 for a 7 p.m., tip-off. The game can be heard on KXLU 88.9 FM and through LMULions.com.