LINKS: BUY TICKETS | Give to LMU Athletics
LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter
MORAGA, Calif. - With their offense struggling the first 26 minutes of the game, LMU turned to their defense to make a late push at Saint Mary's, but it fell short as the Gaels earned a 68-62 win at McKeon Pavilion on Saturday night.
The Lions managed just 21 points at the break and trailed 43-23 with 14:33 to play in the game. The Lions' defense then helped them make a push, cutting the lead to just seven, 65-58, with :40 to play on a Steven Haney Jr. four-point play. They then cut it to 68-62 on a Brown lay-in with two seconds left for the final margin.
LMU's defense forced Saint Mary's into 17 turnovers, nine in the second. They finished with 10 steals to just three for the Gaels. They also had five blocks, all from senior Marin Mornar.
The late push was a complete team effort.
Brandon Brown and Mornar led the team with 12 points while Shamar Johnson had 11. Johnson and freshman Jeffery McClendon led the team with five rebounds. McClendon's all came in the second half. Munis Tutu and Brown led the team with six assists each. The Lions were without leading scorer and rebounder Adom Jacko, who missed the game due to an injury.
"We showed unbelievable fight and spirt without our best player. To come into this place without your top player, is going to be tough for anyone. But we just played fierce," said Head Coach Mike Dunlap. "We never gave up. I loved our competitive spirit."
Calvin Hermanson led Saint Mary's with 16 points. The Gaels, who went just 4-for-19 from three in a setback on Thursday, went 11-for-20 from three (55 percent) and finished the game hitting 51.1 percent from the field. The Lions went 5-for-20 from three and finished 43.6 percent overall.
"Our pick and roll defense wasn't good early and it allowed them to get open looks from three," said Dunlap. "And we didn't hit ours. That was the difference in the game."
It was the final road game of the regular season for the Lions. They head home for the final three games of the season, starting with Santa Clara on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 pm.
 | Support LMU's 22 intercollegiate teams
and it's student-athletes through
scholarships and team support.
Together WE ARE LMU Lions...
join the pride today:
Join the Lions Athletic Fund |
