SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Loyola Marymount men's basketball has hit the 20-win plateau for the second time since 1990 following a 74-69 win on Saturday over San Francisco. The Lions (20-10, 8-8) also secured a first round bye and will play next week's WCC Championships as either the fifth or sixth seed, the highest of Head Coach Mike Dunlap's tenure at his alma Mater.
 
The Lions led 31-25 at halftime with 24 of those points coming in the paint. LMU built up their initial lead thanks to 14-0 run to double up the Dons, 20-10. All this happened as the defense kept USF from scoring over an eight and a half minute stretch.
 
A 9-0 run gave USF their first lead of the second half, 56-55, but LMU responded with four-consecutive points to go back on top.

A three-pointer with 3:59 to play put San Francisco on top for what would be the final time in the WCC Game of the Week.
 
With the score tied at 62-all and 2:05 on the clock, Erik Johansson sunk his only shot of the day, a triple that put LMU on top for good. Johansson's three was the final field goal made for the Lions, but nine made free throws in the last minute of play secured victory for the Lions. James Batemon finished with LMU's final five points from the line and totaled 19 points on the day.
 
Eli Scott added 15 points and a team-high six rebounds, while going 5-for-7 from the field and 5-for-6 from the free throw line. All nine Lions to play scored, with Dameane Douglas adding nine, Petr Herman scoring eight, and Zafir Williams finishing with seven.
 
Defensively, the Lions tied a season-high with six blocked shots. Douglas, Herman, and Mattias Markusson all swatted a pair.
 
The Lions will be watching the remaining scores throughout the evening, but know that they will begin playing in Las Vegas for the WCC Championships Friday in either the 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. game depending on results throughout the rest of Saturday.