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SANTA CLARA, Calif. - It was a game of punches between LMU and Santa Clara in West Coast Conference action Thursday night at the Leavey Center.

Santa Clara threw the first big punch, knocking down nine first half three-pointers to build a double-digit lead. The Lions' defense responded in the second half and delivered a punch of their own, holding SCU to just 27.3 percent from long distance in the second half to erase an 11-point deficit.

However, it was the final blow by the Broncos, their 12th and final three-pointer, that did the Lions in as they fall to the Broncos, 65-62.

"We have to learn how to do the little things necessary to win on the road," said Head Coach Mike Dunlap. "I am very disappointed that we didn't come away with a win. We did so many good things tonight, and to not get a win is very disappointing."

Marin Mornar had his second double-double in three games with a career-high 22 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Godwin Okonji just missed on a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds and Evan Payne added 12 points. Chase Flint had his third game in the last four with eight assists and just one turnover.

Brandon Clark led all scorers with 29, hitting four three-pointers for the Broncos (10-10, 4-4). Jared Brownridge had 20 points, including his sixth three-pointer of the game with 1:18 to play to make it 63-62. The Broncos would tack on a pair of free throws as the Lions (5-15, 1-7) finished hitting just one of their last five field goals.

However, shooting from the field wasn't the Lions problem, as they finished hitting 52.2 percent from the field, going 4-for-9 from three. Santa Clara finished 47.8 percent, going 12-for-25 from three (48 percent). The Lions matched a season low with just six turnovers, going for 14 assists. It was the best assist to turnover ratio of the season.

Free throw shooting played a role in the tight game as the Lions went 10-for-16, missing five key free throws in the final six minutes. Santa Clara went 9-for-11.

"Missed free throws killed us," said Dunlap. "We beat them everywhere else. There are so many good things we can talk about. Our defense really did a good job in the second half. They were on their way to 80 and we held them to 27. We just didn't hit key free throws."

The Broncos led by as many as 11 in the first half thanks to 9-for-13 shooting from three. They would keep the lead at 10, 49-39, with 13:44 to play in the game. The Lions then threw their big punch of the second half, going on a 12-2 run over the next 4:22 to tie the game at 51-51 on a Mornar lay-in.

A Brownridge three-pointer gave Santa Clara the lead right back at 56-53 with 7:50 to play. LMU would tie the game at 58-58 only to see Clark hit a jumper to give them the lead back at 60-58 with 2:42 to play. Within that five minutes the Lions missed five of their next six free throws to help keep Santa Clara in the lead.

"That was a key stretch, and those misses really hurt us," said Dunlap.

Mornar would tie the game, fittingly, on a pair of free throws with 2:22 left. He finished five-for-five from the charity stripe.

Brownridge delivered the key three-pointer a little over a minute later to make it 63-60. On the Lions' next possession, Payne hit a jumper on Flint's eighth assist to make it 63-62. Okonji would then earn a steal on a Brownridge turnover to give the Lions a chance with 24 seconds left.

Payne's drive into the lane was short and the Lions were forced to foul Clark, who hit both free throws with 11 seconds on the clock. The Lions ran one more play and Matt Hayes had a look from the top of the key that hit back iron.

The Lions continue their road swing with a trip to San Francisco on Saturday, Jan. 24. Game time is at 7 pm.