PRINCETON, NJ – The Lions have been invited to continue their memorable season in the 2019 Roman College Basketball Invitational. LMU (20-11, 8-8 WCC) has an opportunity to add to their 20-win season beginning this Wednesday in Riverside with a first round matchup against California Baptist University (16-14, 7-9 WAC). Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and
tickets are currently available through CBU on their website.
The Lions and Lancers have previously met twice, both at Gersten Pavilion in back-to-back seasons. LMU took both matchups, winning 92-79 on Jan. 2, 1999, then taking the game, 78-74, on Nov. 20, 1999.
ABOUT LMU'S SEASON:
LMU has won 20 games for the second time since 1989-90 and started the year with program records at 8-0 and 11-1. Earlier this season, the Lions won the 2018 Jamaica Classic with wins over Georgetown and Ohio in Montego Bay. Head Coach
Mike Dunlap won his 400th career NCAA game with a 76-64 win over Portland on Jan. 5.
The tournament will extend the careers of three seniors,
James Batemon,
Petr Herman, and
Jeffery McClendon.
James Batemon scored his 1,000th career point of his two-year career on Feb. 23 in the win over Pacific. He is the 35th LMU player to hit the 1,000 point milestone, and was named 1st Team All-WCC, Preseason All-WCC, and to the Lou Henson award watch list.
The Lions rank 15th in the NCAA in scoring defense at 62.9 ppg (as of Mar. 17).
James Batemon (1st),
Joe Quintana (5th), and
Jeffery McClendon (6th) all rank in the top six of the WCC in steals per game.
ABOUT THE CBI:
LMU will play in the CBI for the first time in program history. The Lions last made the post season with CIT runs in 2010 and 2012. The CBI is a 16-team tournament is a single-elimination tournament until the finals, where is shifts to a best-out-of-three matchup.
The CBI's website can be found
here.
