March 5, 2011

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. - In a series in which free throws were a big factor in a three close games, the charity stripe once again haunted LMU men's basketball, falling to Santa Clara, 76-68, in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Zappos.com West Coast Conference Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., Saturday night.

Freshman Anthony Ireland had a career-high 24 points, hitting 10-for-19 from the field. Junior Drew Viney added his 10th career double-double and sixth of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Ashley Hamilton added nine points and nine boards for the Lions (11-21).

Santa Clara (19-13) was led by Marc Trasolini with 22 points. Evan Roquemore added 21 points and Kevin Foster 18.

In a game that saw 16 leads changes and nine ties, the game came down the charity stripe. LMU finished the game hitting 26 field goals (26-for-55, 47.3 percent) to 24 for the Broncos (24-for-55, 43.6 percent). However, the Lions finished the game hitting just 14-for-29 (48.3 percent) from the charity stripe while Santa Clara went 23-for-29 (79.3 percent).

"Santa Clara really gave us a lesson in free throws this season," said Head Coach Max Good. "Free throws really killed us tonight. Santa Clara was once again solid and it was the difference."

In the first meeting WCC leading scorer Foster went 13-for-13 from the charity stripe in Los Angele, while Trasolini went 17-for-20 in the meeting in Santa Clara just over a week ago. In that game, the Broncos set an LMU opponent record with 37-of-42 free throws.

In the last two games, the teams have combined for 98 fouls and 122 free throw attempts.

Viney, who entered the game with five straight games over 20 points was held in check most of the night, but still managed to hit 7-for-10 from the field to run his career point total to 999.

"Troy Payne was the defender of the year in the WCC and he really was aggressive and made me work for every shot," said Viney. "You have to give them credit they really focused on make us earn every shot. But Anthony really came through and hit shots we needed."

It was back-and-forth from the start as both teams would hold a four-point lead. Both teams would erase the deficit and Santa Clara went into the break up one, 32-31.

The team would then trade leads five times in the first two minutes of the second half. The Lions would take a 40-38 lead with 16:06 to play on a lay-in by Hamilton.

Santa Clara would then take control with a 9-0 run, capped by a Foster three-poiner with 11:35 to play, putting the Broncos up 47-40. Santa Clara would then grow the lead to 12, 65-53, on a Trasolini lay-up with 4:22 to play.

A 9-2 run by the Lions, capped by a Viney lay-in, cut the lead to five, 67-62. However, the Lions would get no closer.