BIMINI, Bahamas – LMU men's basketball opened the 2019 Junkanoo Jam with a double-digit win over Air Force, 78-64. The Lions (2-2) overcame seven first half lead changes to carry the advantage into the break, and never surrender the lead after halftime.
 
"We had talked a lot about how to win in the second half," said Head Coach Mike Dunlap. "We changed our defenses. Air Force is a very meticulous team so we needed to take them out of their stuff all night long."
 
The Lions were down 10-7 before Eli Scott's back-to-back driving layups capped an 8-0 run and gave LMU the lead back. Scott put together a complete game, scoring 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting, and adding seven rebounds and nine assists.
 
Air Force retook the lead, 25-22, on a made three with 7:47 on the clock, but the Lions strung together seven unanswered to hold the lead for the remainder of the half. That run was started with a Reilly Seebold three and continued with consecutive baskets by Parker Dortch. Both Dortch (17 points) and Seebold (nine points) recorded career highs in the win.
 
Air Force scored the first six points of the second half, but never retook the lead. Deovaunta Williams put the Lions up double-digits with a transition triple at the 12:33 mark. Williams matched his career-high with eight points on 2-for-3 shooting.
 
LMU put together a 10-2 run to build up their largest lead of the game, 66-48, on a Keli Leaupepe layup with under eight minutes remaining. Scott found Leaupepe under the basket for two of the Australian's 10 points.
 
Ivan Apipiev led the Lions in scoring for the second time this season, scoring 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting.
 
LMU shot 57.7 percent from the field in the first half, and improved on that after intermission with 68.2 percent in the second half for a 62.5 percent (30-for-48) mark for the game.

The tournament continues on Friday with the Lions taking on Air Force at 4 p.m. local / 1 p.m. pacific. The game will be streamed on FloHoops.