LOS ANGELES – The Lions (2-2) started the game with the first five points and never gave up that lead, building it to 20+ in both halves, and defeating Long Beach State (0-1), 85-61. 
 
Dameane Douglas opened the game with a triple, setting the trend for the night as LMU hit 15 threes in the game. Douglas hit a pair of threes in the game for his 15 points, to go along with his nine rebounds and five assists. The 15 made threes is the most for an LMU team since 2017 when the Lions hit 16 against Pepperdine (2/18/17).
 
The first half lead ballooned thanks to a 22-4 run over a 7:25 period stretch. LMU led both 21-7 after ten unanswered points and 31-11 after a dozen straight points during that run.
 
Nine of 15 made baskets in the second half were scored from three, as LMU maintained between a nine- and 24-point lead after intermission.
 
Joe Quintana was the catalyst from three, scoring 18 of his career-high 20 points from long range. Ivan Alipiev added four threes of his own as part of his season-best 16-points.
 
Quentin Jackson, Jr. was the fourth Lion in double figures, scoring his most since arriving to the Bluff with 11 points.
 
The Lions shot 53.3 percent from the field in the first half, while holding The Beach to 31.3 percent shooting.
 
LMU recorded 23 assists on 30 made baskets, with Eli Scott leading the team with six assists and 11 rebounds, along with his six points.
 
The second chance points went in favor of the Lions too, as LMU scored 20 points on extra efforts, compared to allowing just two from Long Beach State.
 
It will be a quick turnaround for the Lions, as the team travels to UC Santa Barbara for a Monday matchup, the first of two consecutive meetings with the Gauchos.