BIMINI, Bahamas – Three-point numbers told the story on Friday night in the Bahamas. Indiana State (1-4) benefitted from 14-for-25 (56.0 percent) shooting from long range while the Lions (2-3) hit 3-of-14 (21.4 percent) from distance in the 72-60 ISU win in the second day of the Junkanoo Jam.
Despite falling behind 10-4 in the first five minutes, the Lions used a pair of offensive rebounds from
Keli Leaupepe to spark the first half comeback. Down five, LMU put together a 10-0 run to take the lead, 18-13, with 8:26 on the first half clock. Three of Leaupepe's career-best five rebounds came on the offensive glass and the freshman finished with 10 points off the bench.
LMU maintained the lead until the Sycamores knocked down one of their seven first half threes with 2:19 remaining in the half. On the following offensive possession,
Reilly Seebold hit LMU's only three of the first half (on 11 attempts) to give the Lions a 30-28 lead with 1:44 remaining. After the lead built to four points, Indiana State scored the final five points of the half to take a 33-32 advantage into intermission.
ISU opened the second half with another made three, but
Eli Scott and
Ivan Alipiev each scored in the paint to tie the score at 36-all. LMU more than doubled Indiana State's production in the point, scoring 32 points compared to 14.
The Lions were never able to captured the lead back after that tie score two minutes into the half. Indiana State built up their first double digit advantage with 8:41 remaining. The closest LMU would get is on a late comeback effort where a transition layup by
Deovaunta Williams cut it to a five-point deficit, 61-56, with 4:03 on the clock. Williams finished with a career-high nine points.
Ivan Alipiev led the team in scoring for the second time this tournament, finishing with 13 points.
Eli Scott continued to put together an all-around performance, recording a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The LMU bench has outscored opponents in every game this season, and did so again on Friday, 19-3.
The Junkanoo Jam closes with one final game on Sunday, as LMU and Duquesne square off.
