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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Ivan Alipiev led the team in scoring for the second time this tournament, finishing with 13 points.
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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.
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The Junkanoo Jam closes with one final game on Sunday, as LMU and Duquesne square off.
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