Loyola Marymount University Athletics

LOS ANGELES – LMU men's basketball (5-5) evened their record on Friday night with a 79-76 win over Prairie View A&M (3-7). Four Lions scored in double digits as LMU never trailed leading to the team's second consecutive home win.
 
The Lions started the game with the first six points in the game, and 11 of the 13 to take an 11-2 lead at the 16:18 mark.
 
Parker Dortch knocked down a triple to give LMU a double-digit advantage for the first time in the game, 15-5.

After PVAMU cut it to a six-point game before Eli Scott benefitted from his own offensive rebound for a put back to make it 23-13. Scott shared the team-high with Ivan Alipiev at 17 points apiece. Three of Scott's eight rebounds came off the offensive glass.
 
Later in the half senior Erik Johansson scored threes on consecutive possessions to push the game to 29-18 with 5:10 to play until intermission. Johansson finished the half at 13 points, and scored 14 points total.
 
Alipiev capped off a 7-0 run to extend LMU's lead to a game-high 16 points with 1:11 before half. The Lions went into the locker room up a dozen, 36-24.
 
LMU built the 16-point lead back up on two occasions in the second half before the Panthers clawed their way back into it.

After Prairie View A&M cut it to a one possession game with 21 seconds remaining, Jordan Bell scored an over-the-top pass for the hoop and harm to pish LMU back up 77-72 with 14 seconds to play. Bell hit the double-digit mark in points for the first time since opening night and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.
 
Alipiev finished a perfect 8-for-8 from the line and hit both free throws with seven seconds remaining, before the Lions closed out for the home win.
 
The Lions travel to UC Davis next for a Monday night game against the Aggies, who will be coming off a Saturday night game at WCC-foe San Diego.