LOS ANGELES – Coming off a week between games, the LMU men's basketball team (3-4) outshot Southern Utah (4-4) to earn a home win in their first game back from the Bahamas. After the Thunderbirds shot over 70 percent in their previous game, LMU held SUU to 34.0 percent shooting (16-for-47) on Sunday, giving the Lions a 61-51 win.
 
The Lions scored the first five points of the game, with Seikou Sisoho Jawara making the most of his first career start with an opening three pointer. Sisoho Jawara knocked down his first three shots, and finished the game with career-highs in shots (4-for-6), points (11), rebounds (5), and steals (2).
 
The first half lead grew to as high as eight points when Parker Dortch made one of his career-high eight field goals to push the lead to 13-5 with 13:14 on the clock. Dortch matched his career-best that he set in the win over Air Force with 17 points.
 
Southern Utah used an 8-0 run to extend their first lead of the game to five points, 25-20, with 4:21 to play in the opening half. LMU used a 6-0 run to end the period to take a 33-29 lead into the break.
 
LMU added on with the first six points of the second half as well to push it to a double-digit advantage as Ivan Alipiev and Keli Leaupepe hit back-to-back threes less than 40 seconds apart.
 
After the Thunderbirds cut it to four points halfway through the second half, LMU used a five-minute 10-1 run to push it up to 10 with 4:41 remaining. LMU never surrendered the double-digit advantage for the remainder of the game.
 
LMU forced 18 turnovers, the most since opening night's 21 in the win over Westcliff. The Lions turned those opportunities into 22 points off turnovers.
 
The Lions doubled up Southern Utah in the paint, 18-36, helping LMU shoot 50 percent from the field (25-for-50).
 
It will be a quick turnaround for LMU, who will board a plane to face unbeaten and nationally ranked Colorado on Wednesday night in Boulder. The game will air on the Pac-12 Networks at 8 p.m. MTN / 7 p.m. PST.