Jan. 20, 2015 BUY TICKETS | This is LMU Basketball | We Are LMU... | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter
LOS ANGELES -- LMU men's basketball will begin a four-game road trip in West Coast Conference action on Thursday, Jan. 22, taking on Santa Clara at 8 pm. It is the first of four straight in the Bay Area and the game between the Broncos (9-10, 3-4) and the Lions (5-14, 1-6) can be seen on Time Warner Cable SportsNet, Comcast SportsNet California and out-of-market on TheW.tv. As always, the game can be heard on KXLU 88.9 FM.
LMULIONS.COM GAMEDAY:
INSIDE THE LIONS: The Lions' record sits at 5-14 and 1-6 in the WCC after splitting a weekend homestand against Portland (W, 80-68) and No. 3 Gonzaga (L, 55-72). The Lions have found some rhythm on offense, going for 47 assists in the last three games, more than five per game above their average. Against the Pilots, they had 17 assists on the night, including another eight from senior Chase Flint, who has 31 in the last four games with just seven turnovers. In the win, senior Ayodeji Egbeyemi scored a career-high 22 points and junior Marin Mornar went for a career-best double-double, finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Lions held the Pilots to 39.4 percent shooting, the fifth time this season an opponent has been under 40 percent. The Lions' defense hasn't done that since the 2011-12 season (14 times). Against, BYU, the Lions had five players in double figures for the first time in over a year and finished with a season-best 18 assists (against D-I opponent). They finished shooting 7-for-14 from three against the Cougars, which was a season best until the Lions hit 8-for-12 against the Pilots (66.7 percent). It is the best percentage since hitting 10-for-15 in the win over No. 17 UCLA on Nov. 11, 2011.
THE LIONS REAL QUICK: Senior Chase Flint has a career 2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio and has done nothing but increase that in the last four games. He re-entered the starting line-up on Jan. 8 and he has posted 31 of his 55 assists this season in the last five games, including a career-equalling eight against BYU and Portland. He has just 21 turnovers on the season, good for a 2.62 assist-to-turnover average entering the game against Santa Clara... The Lions' 18 assists was second only to the 24 they had against San Diego Christian. The Lions, who have struggled with turnovers on the season, had its best assist-to-turnover ratio the last two games since going for 15 assists with just nine turnovers against UC Irvine on Nov. 29. The Lions' 80 points Thursday was the most against a D-I opponent this season... The Lions continue to be tough around the rim, ranking third in the WCC in blocked shots. They have 63 blocks as a team and are now averaging 3.68 per game. Junior Marin Mornar equalled a career-high with five blocks against UC Riverside and added three more on Thursday. He has 31 on the season, an average of 1.63 per game, ranking second in the WCC. Mornar now has 77 blocks in his career, good for 7th all-time. Senior Godwin Okonji has 91 in his career, ranking 5th all-time and one behind Ime Oduok (1993-96).
ON THE GLASS: The Lions have been outrebounded only once in WCC play so far this season and in the last nine games, the Lions hold a +4.8 (305 to 261) rebound margin. On Saturday, the Lions outrebounded the best in the WCC, 38-33, going for 19 offensive rebounds. Saint Mary's held the 37-28 edge, the only opponent in the last nine to out-rebound the Lions. It has helped the Lions score big in second-chance points, helping them to a 16-2 edge against the Waves and a 19-10 edge at BYU. As for turnovers, they have been LMU's Achilles heal. On Jan. 3 against SMC, the Lions committed a season-low six turnovers, more than nine fewer than their season average. Against the Zags, the Lions had just 11 compared to 13 for Gonzaga. It was just the second time they had less than their opponent in WCC play (the other was Saint Mary's). In the last 13 games, opponents have a 224 to 150 edge in points off turnovers. Portland held a 21-7 edge in points off turnovers while Gonzaga a slim 15-12.
THE SERIES: This will be the 144th all-time meeting between LMU and Santa Clara, the third most in any series for the Lions. The Broncos hold an 86-57 edge in the series but the Lions have won seven of the last dozen, including the last meeting, a 75-71 win at Gersten Pavilion on Feb. 27. They have split the last two series with each team winning at home. Santa Clara is 3-4 in conference play, defeating San Francisco last Saturday, 70-64. They also have wins at Pacific and home against San Diego. Here is the top-five longest running match-ups in LMU history:
1. Pepperdine 161
2. San Francisco 148
3. Santa Clara 143
4. Saint Mary's 136
5. Portland 93
SENIOR LEADERSHIP: The Lions, with 11 newcomers on the roster, lean heavily on an experienced trio of seniors. Both Godwin Okonji and Ayodeji Egbeyemi are coming off medical redshirt seasons and are in their fifth season in 2014-15. The two have played in 114 and 110 games, respectively, at LMU, ranking 8th and 16th all-time in program history. Both were expected to be mainstays in the starting line-up a year ago before their medical redshirts and enter the game against Pepperdine with a combined 165 starts among them. Joining them is senior Chase Flint. He, along with Egbeyemi, have already earned their Bachelor degrees and both are in master programs at LMU. Egbeyemi is the MBA program while Flint is in the Elementary Education program. Flint, who is from Fruit Heights, Utah, earned the start in last four games and has posted 31 assists and just 7 turnovers the last four games. He is ranked fifth in WCC games with 33 assists (4.7 apg).
THE VOICE: Ayodeji Egbeyemi has become the Lions' captain and voice on the floor, and he continues to show why. He averaged 16.3 ppg at the Diamond Head Classic, hitting 50 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the free throw line. Egbeyemi has nine double-digit scoring games this season, including his career-best 22 on Thursday against Portland. He has led the Lions in scoring the last two games and is shooting 81.9 percent from the charity stripe on the season. He is ranked 9th in the WCC. He leads the team in minutes at 28.6 per game. The only person logging more minutes than him during the three Diamond Head Classic games was fellow senior Godwin Okonji. He scored 13 points and five rebounds in the win over DePaul and now leads the Lions with 5.8 rebounds per contest, ranking 9th in the WCC. His 52 offensive rebounds is 2nd in the WCC at 2.7 orpg. He also has three blocks, giving him 91 in his career. The total is fifth all-time in LMU history, one behind Ime Oduok's 92.
The other two returning players from the Lions' roster last year are having a big impact. Sophomore Evan Payne has put up the points, running his career total to 835 in 50 games (16.7 ppg in his career). His 18.8 ppg this season trails only BYU's Tyler Haws (22.5 ppg) and Brad Waldow (20.6) in the WCC. Payne also second in free throws attempted (114), free throws made (92), 10th in free throw percentage (80.7), fourth in field goals made (110) and fifth in attempted (237). Fellow returner junior Marin Mornar has also been improving on his career numbers, going for a career-best 16 points and eight rebounds against BYU then doing one better with his first double-double, scoring 21 points with 10 boards against Portland. He leads the Lions with 56.4 percent shooting from the field, scoring 8.7 points per game. He has a block in 15 of the Lions' 19 games and his 31 blocks is second in the WCC. He is ranked sixth in the WCC in field goal percentage, second in blocks and his single-season block total is 15th all-time in LMU history. He has found success in conference play, averaging 10.4 points on 53.2 percent shooting in seven WCC games. He is also 18-for-19 from the free throw line, fourth in the WCC.
THE NEWCOMERS: With so many new faces, the Lions will rely on its youth to step-up throughout the season. And they have. Here is a look at some of the highlights from newcomers through 18 games... Junior transfer David Humphries had his best game as a Lion with 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals at BYU. He averages 20.8 mpg and played 38 against BYU in earning the start. He returned the the starting line-up the last three games and went for eight points, seven rebounds and four assists Thursday, adding eight points and five boards against Gonzaga... Junior Matt Hayes found his form again against BYU, hitting all three of his three-pointers to finish with 11 points. And he was at it again versus the Pilots, hitting three-of--four from long range. All told, 23 of his 30 field goals are three-pointers and he is ranked third within the WCC in three-point field goal percentage at 45.1... Patson Siame, in his first season after a year off to establish residency in 2013-14, is fourth in the WCC in blocks with 18, earning two on Thursday. He is adding 6.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest. He had 11 points, six rebounds and a block against Pepperdine and the 10 points and two blocks against Pacific. He then had a career-best three blocks with seven points against Saint Mary's. His strong start to WCC play continued with 10 points, four rebounds, two blocks and a steal against USD. He suffered a knee injury against BYU and did not play against Portland or Gonzaga... freshman Devin Wyatt gave the Lions big minutes in the win over Portland, drawing a pair of charges and getting a key block in nine minutes. He also hit a free throw for his second collegiate point. He had two points and a rebound in eight minutes against Gonzaga... Fellow freshman Petr Herman had his best game against the best in the WCC. He had 11 points with a team-best seven rebounds, adding a block and two steals off the bench in 23 minutes. He hit 5-for-6 from the charity stripe.
