Jan. 23, 2015 BUY TICKETS | This is LMU Basketball | We Are LMU... | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter
SAN FRANCISCO -- The road was not kind within the West Coast Conference Thursday, as all four games in league play went to the home team. LMU men's basketball will look to change that as they continue their four-game road swing of the Bay Area with a trip to San Francisco. The Lions (5-15, 1-7) will face the Dons (9-11, 3-5) on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 7 pm. The game can be heard on KXLU 88.9 FM and can be seen online at TheW.tv.
LMULIONS.COM GAMEDAY:
INSIDE THE LIONS
The Lions' record sits at 5-15 and 1-7 in the WCC after dropping a 65-62 decision at Santa Clara on Saturday. The Lions have found some rhythm on offense, going for 61 assists in the last four games, more than five per game above their average. The Lions had 14 assists and a season-equalling low of six turnovers against the Broncos. It was the team's best assist-to-turnover ratio of the season (against D-I opponents). Leading the charge as been senior Chase Flint, who has 39 in the last five games with just eight turnovers. He had eight assists and just one turnover Thursday. Junior Marin Mornar continues to shine in conference play with his second double-double in three games, going for a career-best 22 points and 11 rebounds. He has set career-highs in three of the last four games, hitting 8-for-14 from the field in 32 minutes against the Broncos. In the win over the Pilots, 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 six games. He re-entered the starting line-up on Jan. 8 and he has posted 39 of his 64 assists this season in the last six games, including a career-equalling eight against BYU, Portland and Santa Clara. He has just 22 turnovers on the season, good for a 2.86 assist-to-turnover average entering the game against San Francisco. He has 41 assists in the eight conference games, ranking tied for third at 5.1 assists per game. His assist-to-turnover ratio, which is 3.4 in WCC games, is ranked second, trailing only Kevin Pangos. In all games, his 3.2 assists per game is ranked 10th... Junior Marin Mornar has hit his stride in conference play, averaging 11.9 ppg and 6.1 rpg while shooting 54.1 percent from the field and 95.8 percent from the free throw line in the eight WCC games. He is ranked fourth overall in the league shooting 55.5 percent while in WCC games he is ranked 17th in scoring, 6th in rebounding, 5th in field goal percentage and tops in the league in free throw shooting... 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 three games since going for 15 assists with just nine turnovers against UC Irvine on Nov. 29. The Lions, who have a 0.89 assist-to-turnover ratio on the season, have posted a 1.2 ratio the last four games... The Lions continue to be tough around the rim, ranking third in the WCC in blocked shots. They have 72 blocks as a team and are now averaging 3.60 per game. Junior Marin Mornar equalled a career-high with five blocks against UC Riverside and added another Thursday. He has 32 on the season, an average of 1.60 per game, ranking second in the WCC. Mornar now has 78 blocks in his career, good for 7th all-time. Senior Godwin Okonji added another to his resume at Santa Clara. He has 92 in his career, equalling Ime Oduko (1993-96) for 4th all-time in LMU history.
ON THE GLASS
The Lions have been outrebounded only once in WCC play so far this season and in the last 10 games, the Lions hold a +4.6 (331 to 285) rebound margin. On Jan. 17 against #3 Gonzaga, the Lions outrebounded the best in the WCC, 38-33, going for 19 offensive rebounds. On Thursday, the Lions held a 26-24 edge on the Broncos, getting five of their eight offensive rebounds from Godwin Okonji, who is second in the WCC at 3.0 ORPG. 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. They equalled that low Thursday against Santa Clara, forcing the Broncos into eight. Against the Zags, the Lions had just 11 compared to 13 for Gonzaga. It was just the second and third time they had less than their opponent in WCC play (the other was Saint Mary's). In the last 14 games, opponents have a 237 to 154 edge in points off turnovers. Portland held a 21-7 edge in points off turnovers while Santa Clara took advantage of the limited opportunities with a 13-4 edge.
THE SERIES
The Lions continue to face some of the longest running opponents in program history this week, facing USF for the 149th time. It is the second longest running series at LMU. Here is the top-five longest running match-ups in LMU history:
1. Pepperdine 161
2. San Francisco 148
3. Santa Clara 144
4. Saint Mary's 136
5. Portland 93
DEFENSE
In falling to Nebraska in overtime, 50-42, the 50 points is the fewest allowed by the Lions since 49 by Seattle on Jan. 1, 2009. LMU's 42 points is the fewest since scoring 39 at Portland on Jan. 21, 2010. The score was tied at 35-35 after regulation. It is the lowest combined regulation score since the Lions defeated San Diego State 28-27 in the 1947-48 season. The 35 points allowed in regulation is the lowest since the Lions defeated San Diego 69-31 on Jan.30, 1962. The Lions allowed Nebraska to score just 14 second half points, the lowest scoring half by an opponent since the Lions joined the West Coast Conference in 1957-58 (records can't be verified prior). The 35 points is the lowest in regulation scored by the Lions since scoring 31 in a setback to UC Santa Barbara in the 1949-50 season and the 16 points in the first half is the lowest since scoring 14 in the second half of that game against Seattle in 2009. The Lions allowed Nebraska just four field goals in the second half, the lowest in at least 20 years.
MORE SHOOTING
The Lions 52.8 percent shooting in the opener was the best since hitting 55.4 percent against NAU on Nov. 17, 2013 and the 28.0 percent against Nebraska was the lowest since hitting 25 percent against seventh-ranked Gonzaga on Jan. 31, 2013. The Lions shot just 29.3 percent in the setback to #3 Gonzaga, the third game this season under 30 percent. Against Santa Clara, the Lions shot 52.2 percent, the sixth game this season over 50 percent. It is the most games over 50 percent shooting in a season since 2011-12.
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 115 and 111 games, respectively, at LMU, ranking 7th and 15th 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 167 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 five games and has steadied the Lions' offense in the last four games with the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the WCC. All told, the trio have combined to play 288 games as Lions.
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 81.8 percent from the charity stripe on the season. He is ranked 10th in the WCC. He leads the team in minutes at 28.3 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 with nine rebounds, a block and three steals against Santa Clara and now leads the Lions with 6.0 rebounds per contest, ranking tied for 7th in the WCC. His 57 offensive rebounds is 2nd in the WCC at 3.0 orpg and he is ranked 9th in the WCC with 23 steals (1.2 spg).
