BOX SCORE

LOS ANGELES – Despite leading for less than six minutes in the game, the Loyola Marymount University men's basketball team found a way to keep their record unblemished and move to a program-record 6-0 start to the season. The Lions benefitted from 7-0 run over the final 49 seconds to defeat Central Connecticut State, 76-74.
 
"I think that obviously that starting group was gritty, then you have Joe Quintana hit a ginormous three after sitting there the whole game," said Head Coach Mike Dunlap. "I just thought everybody on the bench and everybody on the team just stayed the course. The other thing that helped us was they get into foul trouble when we started penetrating."
 
With LMU trailing 74-69, James Batemon found Mattias Markusson in the post with one of his game-high six assists for the hoop and the foul. Markusson converted the free throw and brought the Lions within a basket, 74-72, with 49 seconds to play. Markusson matched his season-high with 15 points.
 
Batemon then showed his defensive instinct on the next Blue Devils possession. The senior guard jumped into the passing lane for his game-high third steal and took it coast-to-coast for the layup with 35 ticks remaining tying the game.
 
The Lions then had to buckle down for one final possession with the game clock and shot clock nearly in sync. With Central Connecticut's leading scorer Tyler Kohl shooting, Zafir Williams was fouled on the rebound attempt sending the sophomore to the line on the opposite end of the court due to the double bonus.
 
Williams calmly knocked both down to untie the game and secure the two point victory.
 
Despite the Blue Devils shooting 10-for-20 from three, it was LMU's interior defense that made a statement.
 
"Seven charges," said Dunlap. "I know 6-0 is a historical number, but to have seven charges is a bigger deal to be because it means we gave up our bodies for the win."

Central Connecticut State built up a lead to as high as eight points in the first half with a layup at the 6:03 mark.
 
The Lions trailed by only three at the half, as Batemon cut the deficit in half with his late three with 23 seconds remaining on the game clock. Batemon has led LMU in scoring in every game this season, finishing with 26 points on 10-for-15 shooting on Wednesday.

Dameane Douglas and Jeffery McClendon joined Batemon and Markusson in double figures with a dozen points apiece. A trio of Lions finished with a team-high seven rebounds as Douglas, Markusson, and Williams are shared the game-high.
 
LMU's 6-0 start is a program record and the Lions have an opportunity to build on that number Saturday as fellow Jamaica Classic opponent Florida A&M visits The Bluff. The game has a scheduled tip of 7:30 p.m., and will follow the consolation and championship games of the women's basketball Thanksgiving tournament played at Gersten Pavilion earlier in the day. Tickets for all three games on Saturday are still available.