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Godwin Okonji and David Humphries accounted for 18 of the Lions' 40 rebounds Tuesday.

Men's Basketball

Defense Shines in OT Heartbreaker

Box Score Dec. 24, 2014

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HONOLULU - LMU held an opponent to 35 points or less in regulation for the first time in nearly 53 years and it helped them erase a nine-point deficit to force overtime. However, the Lions would fall in the extra frame, dropping a 50-42 decision in overtime to Nebraska on Tuesday night at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

The last last gave up 35 points or fewer in a regulation game on Jan. 30, 1962, in a 69-31 win over San Diego. ON Tuesday at the Stan Sherriff Center in Honolulu, the Lions erased a nine-point second half deficit to force overtime with the score tied at 35-35.

However, the Cornhuskers got to big three-pointers from Terran Petteway to pull away in the extra session. Petteway finished with a game-high 17 points. Senior Ayodeji Egbeyemi led the Lions with 16 points and fellow senior Godwin Okonji paced the Lions in an impressive showing on the boards with 10.

The Lions (3-8) finished the game out rebounding the Cornhuskers (7-4) 40 to 22 and had 16 offensive rebounds to Nebraska's two. However, turnovers once again hurt the Lions as they committed 20 to just 13 by the Cornhuskers.

Neither team could take advantage of the edge in those categories, as the Lions scored just four second chance points to NU's zero, while both teams scored 10 points off turnovers.

"Overall, there were some positives in tonight. We addressed everything from the night before but turnovers," said Head Coach Mike Dunlap. "We have to get that under control. But a lot of positives came from tonight."

Despite shooting just 28 percent, the Lions managed to force overtime. They trailed 25-16 with 17:54 to play in regulation after a Walter Pitchford dunk. However, the Lions' stuck to their defense and slowly cut the lead down until they tied the game at 33-33 on a three-point play by Evan Payne with 4:37 to play.

The Lions outscored Nebraska 19-8 over a span of more than 13 minutes. The Lions would take the lead at 35-33 on a lay-up by Okonji with 3:51 to play.

However, Nebraska got two free throws from Shavon Shields to tie the game at 35-35. Thanks to their offensive rebounds, the Lions had three shots in the final minute to end the game in regulation but could not capitalize.

"Our defense in general was a real positive for us," said Dunlap. "We really beat them up on rebounding and it meant we took quite a few more shots than they did. Those are very positive things for us. And the fact that we took anyone, let alone a team like Nebraska, to overtime despite shooting 20 percent, is a positive. It was a great overall physical effort the entire game."

Both teams finished with 14 field goals, the Lions attempted 50 to Nebraska's 38. Overtime was the difference as Nebraska hit 3-for-4 from the field, hit both three pointers and went 7-for-8 from the free throw line. The Lions went 2-for-10, going 1-for-6 from three and hitting both free throws.

The Lions will have an off day on Wednesday and then will play the first game of the final day of action at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. The Lions will take on DePaul on Christmas morning. Tip-off is set for 10:30 am PT/8:30 am HT.

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Players Mentioned

Evan Payne

#1 Evan Payne

G
6' 2"
Freshman
HS
Godwin Okonji

#22 Godwin Okonji

F
6' 8"
Junior
2V
Ayodeji Egbeyemi

#24 Ayodeji Egbeyemi

G
6' 4"
Junior
2V

Players Mentioned

Evan Payne

#1 Evan Payne

6' 2"
Freshman
HS
G
Godwin Okonji

#22 Godwin Okonji

6' 8"
Junior
2V
F
Ayodeji Egbeyemi

#24 Ayodeji Egbeyemi

6' 4"
Junior
2V
G