Feb. 12, 2011
The final three-game homestand of the 2010-11 men's basketball season continues with middle game of the trio as LMU hosts Portland on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. The game is part of Family Weekend with festivities starting with the Hannon Tailgate at 1 p.m. The game will be on FS West and on KXLU 88.9 FM.
LMULIONS.COM GAMEDAY MULTIMEDIA
TV: FS West
RADIO: KXLU 88.9 FM
WEBCAST: None
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RESOURCES: Interactive Yearbook/Media Almanac Game Notes in PDF Interactive Game Notes
INSIDE THE LIONS
LMU enters the game against Portland at 9-16 overall and 1-9 in the WCC, dropping five of those by an average of just three points, including last Thursday's three-point setback to San Diego, a one-point double overtime setback in the first meeting at Portland, a one-point setback to USF and three points on the road to Pepperdine. Injuries continue to hinder the Lions' consistency as they had a different starting line-up in eight straight games (snapped on Thursday at home against Gonzaga) and have started 12 different line-ups on the season, six coming in WCC play. The 12th line-up change came last Saturday against Saint Mary's as leading scorer and rebounder Drew Viney missed the game due to illness and migraines. He was out again against Gonzaga and is not expected back on Saturday against Portland. The Lions' started three freshman, a sophomore and a senior on Thursday. Drew Viney and Vernon Teel rank 1-2 in points and rebounds again this season. Viney, who went for 26 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the year against Seattle, leads the team in scoring at 15.5 ppg and rebounds at 6.5 rpg, while Teel averages 12.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game this season. Sophomore Ashley Hamilton has come on strong in the last few weeks, going for 16 points against Saint Mary's. He is now averaging 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. Freshman Anthony Ireland is turning heads in his first season of college basketball, averaging 9.8 ppg and 2.9 apg, earning his first double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first meeting against Gonzaga.
SOLES 4 SOULS
The West Coast Conference and Zappos.com have partnered with Soles for Soles for the third straight year to donate gently worn or new shoes to countries facing natural disasters. Through February 26, donation bins will be located in Gersten Pavilion for LMU to make donations for those in need and there are two more men's basketball home games for fans to make a difference. Fans interested in donating to the cause can bring their shoes to LMU basketball games through February 26. Soles4Souls is an organization that collects shoes and distributes them worldwide to those who are in need of simple commodities we often take for granted, such as a pair of shoes. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 7.5 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes, and are currently donating one pair every seven seconds. The shoes have been distributed to people in over 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States. LMU has led the conference in donations the last two years, winning the eight-school competition with over 3,500 pairs of shoes in 2009-10.
SO CLOSE
The 2011 WCC season is proving to be one of a heartbreaking nature. Seventeen of the Lions' 24 games heading into Gonzaga have been decided by 10 points or less. The Lions are just 5-12 in those games. Eight have come in WCC play, with the Lions going just 1-7. Five of the last eight WCC games have been decided by a combined 15 points (3.0 per game). Overall on the season, LMU has had six setbacks by a combined 12 points. Those include Morgan State by two, Bradley by two, Portland by one, Pepperdine by three, USF by one and San Diego by three. The 2009-10 season was not one for the faint of heart either. The Lions had 22 of their 33 games decided by 10 points or less and they were 12-10 in those games, 5-4 in WCC play. In the last two years the Lions have played in 29 games decided by 10 points or less, going 17-22 overall and 6-11 against WCC opponents.
THE MATCH-UP
This will be the 83rd meeting between LMU and Portland in a series that began in 1954 with the Lions winning in Los Angeles, 89-57. The Lions hold an overall 42-40 edge in the series and a 24-12 record at home, winning the last meeting at Gersten Pavilion, 77-68 in overtime, Feb. 20, 2010. Speaking of overtime, the last two have now gone to overtime, as the first meeting of this season's series went to double overtime as the Pilots earned a 79-78 win at the Chiles Center in Portland on Jan. 14. Drew Viney scored 20 of his 24 points after the break, adding seven rebounds for the Lions. Luke Sikma matched Viney with 24 points, adding 10 rebounds, and scoring eight points in overtime for the Pilots. Viney's three-pointer from the left corner completed a 10-0 run in the final two minutes to give the Lions a 60-58 lead with six seconds to play. However, Stohl was fouled on the Pilots trip down the floor and he hit both free throws with two seconds to play to send the game to overtime. In the first overtime, Edgar Garibay hit one of two free throws to tie it at 66-66 with 19 to play and Portland would not hit on the next possession to set-up the second overtime. Viney would score the first bucket of the second overtime, but Portland scored the next five points, and stretched the lead to five. A Viney three-pointer cut it to 76-75, with :19 left. Portland made it 77-75 lead with 13 to play. Viney then had the same look he had at the end of regulation with seven seconds but the shot was just long. Stohl hit two free throws to give them a key four-point lead, as Ireland would hit a three-pointer at the buzzer for the final margin.
