Dec. 1, 2015 CORVALLIS, Ore. -- LMU men's basketball continues it's stretch of road games with a mid-week match-up with Oregon State on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7 pm. The Lions (4-2) have won three straight after picking up a 73-60 road win last Saturday. The Beavers (4-1) enter the game with eight days of rest after falling to Valparaiso on Nov. 24 (63-57). The game will be aired on the Pac-12 Networks and can be heard live on KXLU 88.9 FM.
LMULIONS.COM GAMEDAY:
THE MATCH-UP
This will be the fourth all-time meeting between LMU and Oregon State, the first since the uptempo Paul Westhead era. The teams played three straight seasons through 1987-89. The Beavers took the first two, winning 84-69 on Dec. 9, 1987 and then at Gersten Pavilion on Dec. 7, 1988, 100-90. This will be the first meeting between the two since they combined to score a Gill Coliseum record 230 points on Dec. 19, 1989. The Lions earned a 117-113 victory as the epic contest saw Bo Kimble (53 points) and Gary Payton (48) combined for 101 points.... The name Payton will once again appear in the box score in the newest meeting between the two as Gary Payton II is the featured player on the Beaver's roster. The Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2014-15 leads the team in points (18.6), rebounds (8.0) and assists (4.8).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LMU enters the week ranked 9th nationally and the best in the WCC from the charity stripe at 79.2 percent... The Lions lead the WCC with a +5.33 turnover margin, ranking 20th nationally. The Lions force teams into 17.3 turnovers per game (best in the WCC) while ranking second with just 12.0 turnovers themselves... OSU averages only 12.0 turnovers while forcing 13.6 per game... The Lions are second in the WCC with 9.3 steals per contest (21st nationally) while Oregon State is tied for the Pac-12 lead with 8.0.
GAMEDAY
The Lions are in a stretch of games playing seven of nine on the road. The Lions started the stretch with a 73-60 win at SE Missouri State on Nov. 28. They will travel to Oregon State on Wednesday before coming home for a one-game stop against UC Riverside on Sunday, Dec. 6. During the stretch of home games for both men's and women's basketball during the holidays, LMU Athletics and the LAX Community Relations Division have partnered to help support the Bob Hope USO. During every game throughout the holiday season, fans are asked to donate new, travel-sized personal care items for our military. Such items include toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, sunscreen, shaving cream and shampoo. Collection bins will be located in the lobby of Gersten Pavilion at all men's and women's basketball home games through Dec. 23. Following the match-up with the Highlanders, the Lions will play the next five out of six games on the road, traveling to Boise State (Dec. 9) and CS Fullerton (Dec. 12) to start the stretch.
INSIDE THE LIONS
The Lions have won three straight and improved to 4-2 on the season thanks to an 82-80 overtime win against CSUN on Nov. 25 and then a 73-60 road win over SE Missouri State on Nov. 28... LMU improved to 3-0 at home to start the early season as they head to the road for seven of their next nine games.
Sophomore Joshua Spiers erupted for a career-best 24 points, hitting 6-of-10 three-pointers, to lead the Lions in overtime. As a freshman, Spiers had 25 points and six three-pointers for the season. He finished 7-for-11 from the field, adding three rebounds and a steal. He scored five of the Lions' nine points in overtime and hit the would be game winner. He was a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. On Saturday, he was one of five Lions in double figures, scoring 10-points with two more three pointers. He was once again perfect from the line, leading the Lions to its third straight win. He finished the week 9-for-18 from the field, 8-for-17 from three, 8-for-8 from the charity stripe, adding four rebounds, two assists and three steals.
The Lions finished the win at SEMO 10-for-31 from three, giving them four straight games with nine or more three-pointers. It is the longest streak of nine or more since the Lions went four straight games in the 1990-91 season. The last game of that streak is the highest scoring game in NCAA history, the 186-140 win over US International on Jan. 5, 1991. The Lions are currently ranked third in the West Coast Conference entering the week hitting 7.8 three-pointers a game.
Joshua Spiers' six three-pointers against CSUN on Nov. 25 is tied for the most in the last 20 years. Junior Matt Hayes hit six three-pointers a year ago against Santa Clara (Feb. 21, 2015), going for his career-best 20. Adoyah Miller also hit six three pointers in a double-overtime win against Boise State on Dec. 19, 2006. Spiers leads the Lions with 12 three-pointers on the season, hitting 41.7 percent. Sophomore Steven Haney has hit 11 and junior Brandon Brown has hit six, leading the Lions at 46.2 percent from long range.
The Lions went 17-for-19 from the free throw line in the win over SEMO, hitting all 11 attempts in the second half. For the season, the Lions enter the week hitting 79.2 percent from the free throw line, which is tops in the West Coast Conference and ranked ninth in the nation.
Taking care of the ball has been a factor this season for the Lions - both on offense and defense. On the offensive side, the Lions lead the WCC and rank 20th in the nation with a +5.33 turnover margin. The Lions force a league leading 17.3 turnovers while only turning the ball over 12.0 times per game, tied for second in the WCC. Defensively, the Lions are second in the WCC in steals with 9.3 per game, which is ranked 21st nationally. The Lions' aggressive defense so far this season has equated to 106 points, holding a 15-11 edge against CSUN and a 15-12 edge at SEMO.
Jacko's double-double is the first by an LMU player in his first game as a Lion against an NCAA Division I program in 35 years. Senior Marin Mornar had 13 and 11 against Pacifica on Nov. 9, 2012. In addition, the 22 points were the most by a Lions' player in his first game since Larry Davis had 22 against Boise State on Nov. 13, 2009. Brandon Worthy had a 24-point effort against Loyola Chicago on Nov. 22, 2002 for the best scoring game by a Lion his first collegiate game (freshman).
Senior Marin Mornar was second in the WCC in blocks a year ago, finishing with 47 as a junior to rank 5th all-time for blocks in a season. He is back at it to start his senior season. He had three in the opener against the Titans and added five more since to move to third all-time with 101 blocks. The only four-year senior on the roster, he played in his 91st game against SEMO.
