Jan. 6, 2011

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - LMU ran into one of the best shooting team in the nation on Thursday in the West Coast Conference opener for both the Lions and Saint Mary's. The Gaels showed why they fourth in the nation in shooting percent nationally, hitting 61 percent to extend their winning streak to seven with a 98-75 victory over Loyola Marymount Thursday night at Gersten Pavilion.

The Lions (7-8, 0-1) were led by Vernon Teel with 19 points and Larry Davis with 18 points and seven rebounds. Mickey McConnell led all scorers with 21 points, missing just one shot on nine attempts. Rob Jones added 20 points and six rebounds as six Gaels finished in double figures.

"They really took it to us early, we allowed them to get into their shooting form a the very beginning, and you absolutely cannot do that against a team that can shoot the ball the way they can," said Head Coach Max Good. "That is one good team and they really took it to us tonight."

The Gaels, who rank fourth in the NCAA in shooting at 50.6 percent, opened the game hitting 13 of their first 16 shots, six coming from the three-point line to build a 15-point lead just nine minutes into the game as they never looked back.

SMC shot 69.7 percent in the first half to lead by 14 at the break, 56-42, and stretched the lead to as many as 28. They finished the game hitting 61.0 percent (36-for-59) from the field, including an 11-for-20 clip from long range. They also were near perfect from the free throw line, hitting 15-of-16 (93.8 percent).

LMU shot 43.1 percent for the game, and equaled a season-best with seven three-pointers (on 12 attempts).

The Lions will continue their conference-opening homestand with San Diego on Saturday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on KXLU 88.9 FM. It will also be webcast on LMULions.com.