LINKS: #LIONSTRONG | Give to LMU Athletics | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - For the sixth time this season and the third time in conference play, LMU men's basketball saw themselves in a one-point ball game. And it ended in heartache. Jared Brownridge hit his fifth three-pointer with 2.4 seconds left to lift Santa Clara to a 64-63 win in West Coast Conference action on Saturday afternoon.

The game was tight from start to finish as the largest lead was just six and the Lions led 63-61 after Brandon Brown hit one of two free throws. After a Santa Clara (11-10, 5-3) timeout, Brownridge came off a screen and was well guarded by Jeffery McClendon, but the 2000-point scorer hit it for the game winner. The Lions (9-10, 2-6) drop to 3-3 in one-point games and played their 12th game decided in the final 10 seconds, dropping to 5-7 in those games.

Buay Tuach led the Lions with 13 points while Brandon Brown added 12 points and Shamar Johnson chipped in 10. Brownridge, who was held to 1-for-11 shooting in team's first meeting, led all scorers with 25 points.

LMU forced Santa Clara, who entered the game top-10 nationally in fewest turnovers at just over 10 in a game, into 16 turnovers on 10 steals. The Lions' defense helped them erase a six-point deficit as Tuach tied the game after a steal and dunk with 2:39 to play, 59-59.

Brownridge hit two free throws for a 61-59 lead with 2:11 to play. Brown answered on the next possession to give the Lions a 62-61 lead on a three-pointer with 1:49 to play. Both teams would create misses and LMU put Santa Clara in a position to foul three straight times to get into the bonus and out Brown to the line with 23 seconds left, setting up the final sequences.

GAMEDAY STORYLINES

• The Lions had just two turnovers in the first half but finished with 16 on the game. Both teams combined to score 31 points off turnovers.

• It was a tale of two halves. The Lions shot just 40 percent in the first half but rebounded to shoot 52 percent in the second to finish hitting 45.8 percent. Santa Clara shot 62.5 percent in the first half but just 39.1 percent in the second and finished hitting 51.1 percent. LMU went 9-for-18 from three while Santa Clara was 9-for-23.

• LMU out-rebounded Santa Clara 30-25 and had a 7-3 edge in second chance points.

FROM COACH DUNLAP

"We played wonderful, absolutely wonderful defense. That gave us a chance to win," said Head Coach Mike Dunlap. "All the players put us in a position to win. They all played defense to the point we had the lead and a chance to win. That is what it is about. But we were in another heartache."

"Our free throws were better but we clearly need to get better. We had 14 turnovers in the second half and that had to do with not passing the ball as well."

UP NEXT

The Lions are back home on Thursday, Jan. 26 for the Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers game against Pacific at 7 pm. Join the Lions for a special Greek Org Night (it is recruitment week) and opportunities to give to the American Cancer Society. It will be a special night, so join LMU on Thursday, Jan. 26 as the Lions take on Pacific.

GAMEDAY PHOTOS