Jan. 8, 2011

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - LMU used a plus-13 edge in rebounding in the second half and the 11th career double-double by Vernon Teel to earn a 67-58 win over San Diego in West Coast Conference action at Gersten Pavilion Saturday night.

Senior Vernon Teel finished the game with his fifth double-double of the season, scoring 16 points with 12 rebounds, adding six assists, three steals with an 8-for-9 effort from the charity stripe. Anthony Ireland added 15 points and five assists, while Larry Davis chipped-in 10 for the Lions (8-8, 1-1).

Darian Norris scored a career-high 24 points for the Toreros (3-13, 0-2)

"In the first half it seemed like we were trying hard, but not working hard," said Head Coach Max Good. "I know it sounds like a contradiction, but we had good intent, but we weren't working hard to get the result we wanted. In the second half we worked hard on the glass and it paid off in the end."

The Lions trailed by one at the break, 29-28, after USD scored 17 second chance points thanks to 12 of their 19 rebounds coming on the offensive boards.

LMU would turn the tables in the second frame. After only 16 boards in the first half, the Lions outrebounded USD 26-13 in the second half and held USD to just four offensive boards. LMU finished with a 42-32 edge on the glass.

"Rebounding is one of the few aspects of the game where you can be selfish," said Good. "I told them that I want five selfish rebounders in the game. Vernon really went out to prove that tonight."

It was a two possession game for most of the second half, until the Lions finally earned some cushion with an 8-0 run late. Holding a four-point edge, 51-47, Ireland hit back-to-back three-pointers and Teel hit a jumper with 4:37 to play, pushing the lead to 59-47.

It would be the last field goal for the Lions, but they went 8-for-10 from the free throw line down the stretch to ice it.

LMU finished the game holding USD to just 34.5 percent shooting, the seventh time this season the Lions have held an opponent under 40 percent shooting. The Lions went for 40 percent (20-for-50) and hit 22-for-28 from the charity stripe (78.6 percent).

The Lions will head to Portland on Thursday, Jan. 13 to start a three-game road trip. The game against the Pilots will be on ESPN2 and will tip-off at 8 p.m. The game will also be on KXLU 88.9 FM.