Jan. 12, 2017 LINKS: Basketball Ticket Information | #LIONSTRONG | Give to LMU Athletics | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter
LOS ANGELES - Thursday in January means its a West Coast Conference Game Day and for LMU men's basketball it's a rare top-10 match-up in one of the hardest places to play in the nation. LMU takes on fifth-ranked Gonzaga tonight, Thursday, Jan. 12, at 6 pm.
Lion fans can watch the game at the official Watch Party hosted by Bowlero. Located on Lincoln Boulevard, Bowlero is the place to be to watch the Lions. From 5 pm to midnight enjoy midnight bowling for just $11 when you mention "LMU" at the door. With great food and great, watch the Lions on one of the many big screens throughout the bowling alley and be #LIONSTRONG.
INSIDE THE LIONS
Thursday's match-up will be the second against a ranked opponent on the season. The match-up with No. 19 Saint Mary's was the first ranked opponent for the Lions since Feb. 12, 2015 when the Lions face No. 2/3 Gonzaga. The Lions faced three ranked opponents in the 2014-15 season, including No. 14 Wichita State at the Diamond Head Classic on Dec. 22 and No. 3 Gonzaga in the first meeting. The Lions are 4-13 in their last 17 games against ranked opponents.
The Lions' match-up against the fifth-ranked Zags is the 21st time the Lions have taken on a top-10 opponent since LMU opened Gersten Pavilion on Jan. 15, 1982. Their only win came against Gonzaga on Feb. 18, 2010 when they were ranked No. 9. Since that date, the Lions have faced a top-10 opponent 20 times, just six at Hanks House. In the 2013 season at the West Coast Conference Championships they faced a top-ranked Zags team, in the WCC semifinals. It was the first time the Lions faced the No. 1 team in the nation since 1989. Fittingly, the last time the Lions had to face a No. 1 was actually in Las Vegas. In the historic 1989-90 season, LMU would open with preseason No. 1 UNLV on Nov. 15, 1989, falling 102-91. LMU has played a No. 1 (AP only) seven times, five of them coming against conference foe USF. Here is the list of the Lions' top-10 match-ups since 1982:
LMU vs TOP-10
at #3 Gonzaga - Feb. 12, 2015 - L, 51-80
#3 Gonzaga - Jan. 17, 2015 - L, 72-55
vs. #1 Gonzaga - Mar. 9, 2013 - L, 66-48
at #6 Gonzaga - Feb. 9, 2012 - L, 74-55
#7 Gonzaga - Jan. 31, 2012 - L, 88-43
#9 Gonzaga - Feb. 18, 2010 - W, 74-66
at #10 Gonzaga - Jan. 23, 2010 - L, 85-69
#8 Notre Dame - Nov. 21, '08 - L, 65-54
at #4 Gonzaga - Mar. 7, 2006 - L, 68-67
#5 Gonzaga - Feb. 18, 2006 - L, 79-70
at #5 Gonzaga - Jan. 16, 2006 - L, 92-80
vs. #7 Gonzaga - Mar. 2, 2002 - L, 82-62
at #8 Gonzaga - Feb. 14, 2002 - L, 72-51
at #10 UCLA - Dec. 29, 1998 - L, 92-67
at #10 LSU - Dec. 20, 1990 - L, 122-114
vs. #2 UNLV - Mar. 25, 1990 - L, 131-101
#7 Okla.- Dec. 23, 1989 - L, 136-121
at #1 UNLV - Nov. 15, 1989 - L, 102-91
at #7 Okla. - Dec. 17, 1988 - L, 136-103
vs. #7 UNC - Mar. 19, 1988 - L, 123-97
The Lions are 8-7, 1-3 on the season as they enter Thursday's game. The Lions won five of their last six games in non-conference and had a season-best four-game winning streak. The 66-56 win over Santa Clara snapped a three-game skid, two of which came in the final 10 seconds. Here is a look at the last month of the Cardiac season for the Lions:
- Dec. 10 - LMU 69, CSUN 68 - Stefan Jovanovic hits a put-back with nine seconds remaining and Lions defense deflects shot at the buzzer for road win.
- Dec. 17 - LMU 91, UIW 90 (ot) - Down eight in second half, Lions hit 11 straight free throws to end regulation, and defense holds on two UIW shots at the buzzer.
- Dec. 19 - LMU 69, CSU 66 - LMU erases 10 point deficit in final nine minutes as Brandon Brown hits three-pointer with 0.9 seconds left for road win.
- Dec. 22 - UTA 80, LMU 77 - LMU trailed by 9 with 6:30 to play and a pair of three-pointers at buzzer don't fall.
- Dec. 31 - BYU 81, LMU 75 - LMU led by 10 with 9:01 to play but TJ Haws hit back-to-back three- pointers, the second coming with 36 seconds to play, gave the Cougars the 79-76 lead. LMU had a chance to tie with 10 seconds left but the shot was blocked.
- Jan. 5 - Pepperdine 71, LMU 70 - LMU led by seven with 7:54 to play but Waves hit put-back with 1.6 left for one-point win.
QUICK HITS:The 56 points allowed to Santa Clara was the eighth time this season the Lions have held an opponent under 70 points. They improved to 7-1 in those games…
In addition, they held the Broncos to 36.8 percent from the field. It is the ninth opponent the Lions held to under 45% shooting in a game, improving to 7-2 in those games… The Lions are 7-1 when shooting better than their opponent, 7-1 when out-rebounding them and 7-1 when scoring more second chance points. All of which they did against Santa Clara…
The Lions are 2nd in the WCC in steals at 6.9 per game, 3rd in assists at 16.9 apg, 4th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3), 2nd in offensive rebounds (12.2) and 2nd in turnover margin (+1.5)... The Lions lead the league in forcing 14.3 turnovers per game, including a season-high 19 by Saint Mary's. They turned the ball over just six times while forcing Pepperdine into 12 on Jan. 5. They are also the 2nd in offensive rebound percentage at 34.1%…
Brown and Jovanovic are two of five seniors pacing the Lions this season. Within the WCC, Brown is 13th in scoring (13.9 ppg) and 4th in assists (5.3 apg). He is also 4th in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.5). Jovanovic scored in double figures the last seven non-conference games, including a pair of career-highs in the process, and has double figures in 10 of the last 11 games. He ranks 20th in scoring (11.3 ppg), 18th in rebounds (5.3) and 3rd in shooting at 60.7 percent. He is also ranked 3rd in offensive rebounds at 2.5 and 9th in blocks at 0.9…
Senior Shamar Johnson returned to the line-up after missing the last two games due to injury, scoring 10 points with six rebounds and a career-best six assists against BYU. He had 10 points and three rebounds against Pepperdine and went for 12 points and eight rebounds against Santa Clara. The Pensacola, Fla., native has become a leader for the Lions and is having his best season with 8.2 ppg and 5.1 rpg. He is 15th in the league in shooting at 48.5 percent and 7th with 2.0 offensive rebounds per game.
AROUND THE CORNER
The annual LMU Homecoming Weekend for 2017 is shaping up to be one for the record books and preparations are underway for the ultimate rivalry weekend. This year's homecoming will take place Feb. 16-18, 2017 and will feature the Class of 2017 of the LMU Athletics' Hall of Fame and a pair of not-to-be-missed showdowns in West Coast Conference action.
Fans can be a part of this year's homecoming starting with the T-Shirt Design Contest. The annual homecoming T-Shirt has become a traditional part of homecoming week and this year we are looking for you, the fan, to design this year's shirt.
We are looking for Lions to put their creative skills to the test and help us design the Homecoming T-Shirt. Deadline for submissions is Friday, Jan. 20 be 5 pm. Submit entries to angel.haro@lmu.edu. Judges will review all submissions and select the best design, which will be produced and handout during the homecoming game. Winner will earn a grand prize of two NBA basketball tickets to see the Los Angeles Clippers take on the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
For full details and instructions, CLICK HERE.
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