SAN DIEGO – Despite six first half lead changes, and a one-point game at the break, the Loyola Marymount men's basketball was unable to find the second half answer against San Diego on Thursday night. The Toreros (14-7, 3-3 WCC) outscored the Lions (14-6, 2-4 WCC) by a dozen in the second half to win, 71-58.
 
The Toreros capitalized from the three-point line throughout the game, hitting nine threes in the game compared to one for LMU. The first three to fall for the Lions came with 1:47 remaining in the game as James Batemon buried the triple.
 
That shot sparked a 5-0 run, and combined with an Eli Scott field goal to make it a 61-57 game with 1:20 remaining, but San Diego responded with eight unanswered of their own to put the game out of reach. Batemon led all players with 17 points and Scott added 13 of his own.
 
Mattias Markusson was the first to double-digits going 5-for-5 from the field in the first half. The center finished with 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

Batemon, Markusson, and Scott all hit six field goals each, with the rest of the team combining for the remaining seven baskets.
 
As a team, LMU shot 54 percent (13-for-24) from the field in the first half, despite starting the game 0-for-6 from three. Conversely, the defense held USD to 38 percent (9-for-24) in the opening 20 minutes and forced nine turnovers, but the Toreros hit five triples.

The Lions finished the game at 52.1 percent (25-for-48) and San Diego closed out at 45.1 percent (23-for-51) after shooting 52 percent (14-for-27) themselves after intermission.
 
San Diego attempted 10 more free throws than the Lions, after LMU hit the double-bonus with 10-plus minutes remaining until the break.
 
Conference play continues on Saturday in Santa Clara as the Lions and Broncos battle it out at 6 p.m. on TheW.tv.