Dec. 8, 2016 LINKS: Basketball Ticket Information | #LIONSTRONG | Give to LMU Athletics | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter
LOS ANGELES - The LMU Sustainability Office is partnering with the Lions to present the LMU Men's Basketball Green Game tonight at Gersten Pavilion. The Green Game will see the Lions take on Southern Utah at 7 pm. The game can be seen on TheW.tv through the LMU Sports Network and can be heard on KXLU 88.9 FM.
As part of tonight's partnership, the LMU Sustainability Office is presenting tonight's game program card digitally. Here is everything you need to know for tonight's match-up thanks to the LMU Sustainability Office:
THE MATCH-UP
With just four games in the first month of the season, the Lions will pick up the pace quickly in December. It started Monday with Boise State, opening a stretch of three games in six days. They will play nine games in the month, including six games in the final two weeks of the year. The Lions are 2-3 after falling to Boise State at the buzzer, 80-79 on Dec. 5. The Lions enter the week leading the West Coast Conference in three-point field goal percentage defense (26.3 percent), which is also ranked ninth within the NCAA as of Dec. 6. They also lead the WCC in steals (8.4 spg), while ranking second in the league in assists (19.8 apg) after dishing out 26 on Monday. They are 32nd in the NCAA in steals per game and eighth in assists per game.
Southern Utah enters the game at 2-6 overall, falling at Oakland, 78-68, on Dec. 3. The Thunderbirds play uptempo, averaging 81.3 points per game, which is ranked 59th in the nation, while allowing 82.4 per contest, which 324th nationally. The aggressive style as Southern Utah ranked third in the national in free throws attempted (266) and sixth in free throws made (185), while ranking 47th in three-pointers attempted (209) and 83rd in three's made (69). Randy Onwuasor leads the team with 20.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest, going 13-for-41 from three and 57-for-70 from the free throw line.
This will be the second meeting between the two teams, meeting for the only time on Dec. 30, 1997 in Gersten Pavilion. The Lions defeated the Thunderbirds 82-72 thanks to Haywood Eaddy's 21 points and 11 rebounds.
INSIDE THE LIONS
Five games into the season, the Lions (2-3) are led by seniors
Brandon Brown and
Buay Tuach. Brown leads the Lions with 12.4 points and 5.6 assists per game, going for a season-best nine assists against Boise State. He has scored in double digits the last four games, chipping in 13 Monday. Within the WCC, Tuach is ranked in the top-25 in points, assists and steals. He is 24th in points (11.6), 13th in asissts (3.0) and 5th in steals (1.6) with a team-high eight. He is also 12th in the league in three-point shooting, hitting 47.1 percent on the season (7-for-19).
Last year the Lions ranked 26th nationally in turnover margin and set the school record for assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.37 (which was third in the WCC). They are currently second in the WCC in both categories with a turnover margin at +1.8 and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.4. They are ranked 23rd in the NCAA in assist-to-turnovers.
The Lions shot over 50 percent from the field in back-to-back games, hitting 52.3 percent against Boise State after going for a season-best 57.4 percent in the win over Portland State. They hit 62.1 percent in the second half to erase a 10-point deficit. It is the third game this season the Lions have hit better than 50 percent, hitting 50.7 percent against Vanguard. It is the first time the Lions have posted back-to-back games over 50 percent since December of 2009. They hit 50 percent against Montana on Dec. 10 and then hit 51.6 percent in a win at Notre Dame on Dec. 12. They did it just twice all of last year. The Lions are fourth in the WCC at 48.4 percent on the season, ranking 48th nationally.
UPNEXT
The Lions will travel to CSUN on Saturday, Dec. 10 for a 7 pm game. It will be just the second road game of the season for the Lions and will complete a stretch of three games in six days.
The Lions will then have finals week before returning home to host Incarnate Word on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 4 pm. The game is part of Alumni Family Day which features a doubleheader with the women and a special Alumni Tailgate Party. The action starts at noon with the tailgate, followed by the women taking on UC Riverside at 1 pm. Alumni can get special discounted tickets for $15 (13 and older - 12 and under are free!). The price includes admission to both games, admission to the tailgate, complimentary drink ticket (21+ and adults only), and a meal voucher for the concession stand for a a hot dog and soft drink. The tailgate will continue between games. For discounted tickets to the game and tailgate party, click here.
TICKETS
The best way to get tickets to this season of LMU basketball is still through season tickets. To renew season tickets, click MY ACCOUNT. To buy new season ticket, click BUY TICKETS. Have the promo code for the local community season ticket, click PROMO CODE.
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