Box Score | Photo Gallery

BUY TICKETS | This is LMU Basketball | We Are LMU... | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Sophomore Evan Payne added to the recent drama of the series between LMU and San Francisco as he grabbed an offensive rebound and scored off the glass at the buzzer to lift the Lions to a 70-69 come-from-behind victory in West Coast Conference action on Saturday night.

Senior Chase Flint earned his third steal of the game and scored with 51 seconds left to tie the game at 68-68. Then with 20 seconds to play, USF's Kruize Pinkins hit just one-of-two free throws to give USF a 69-68 lead.

The Lions, without a timeout, pushed and got a three-point attempt from Mornar that was long. Godwin Okonji got the offensive board and floated a shot short that was cleaned up by Payne and put-in for the winner.

"Just a gut, character check for our team and program," said Head Coach Mike Dunlap. "We never stopped playing and just kept pushing. It was a huge team effort on the road."

Ayodeji Egbeyemi led the Lions (6-15, 2-7) with 19 points followed by David Humphries and Payne with 13 each. Flint continues to pace the Lions with a career-high nine assists and no turnovers, adding five points and three steals. Mornar equalled a career-best with 11 rebounds, adding nine points.

USF (9-12, 3-6) was led by Pinkins and Mark Tollefsen with 19 each.

The Lions, who trailed by 17 early in the second half and by 14 with 11:31 to play, outscored the Dons 28-13 from that point to earn the win. The Lions shot 53.6 percent in the second (15-for-28), hitting 6-for-9 from long range.

After surrendering 43 points on 55 percent shooting, the Lions defense clamped down in the second, holding USF to just 26 second-half points on 40 percent shooting. The Dons hit just 2-for-13 from three.

"Our defense in the second half was the difference," said Dunlap. "That was the most we gave up in a half and to hold them to 26 points was a great adjustment by our team. Offensively we were much more patient and got better shots."

Free throws and offensive rebounds played a role throughout the game, not just the ending. The teams combined to miss 19 free throws as LMU went 4-for-12 while USF went 15-for-26. The Lions, however, made up for it with 15 offensive rebounds, leading to a 14-8 edge in second chance points.

"We just kept fighting," said Dunlap. "Our assists continue to go up while our turnovers are going down. That has everything to do with Chase. He had an incredible game with nine assists and no turnovers. And Deji was equally as solid for us all game. And Evan Payne had a chance to hit a game winner and took advantage. A good program win."

The Lions will return to the Bay Area on Thursday, Jan. 29 when they travel to Saint Mary's for a 7:30 pm tip-off.