SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Both Eli Scott and Keli Leaupepe recorded doubles-doubles on Monday night, while Scott tied his career-high with 31 points. LMU (2-3) cut it to a three-point game in the second half, but were never able to take a lead in the game, falling to the Gauchos (3-0), 69-58, in the first of two matchups this week.
 
Scott attacked early, scoring 14 points and adding five rebounds in the first half. He added to it after intermission, finishing with 31 points and 12 rebounds for his 16^th career double-double. The senior is tied for eighth all-time in school history with that mark. Eight of Scott's 12 rebounds came on the offensive end of the court.
 
Keli Leaupepe grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds to go along with 14 points for his first double-double of the year and second of his career. 
 
The Lions held a 20-12 rebounding advantage and 9-to-1 on the offensive glass in the first half, and finished the game with a 46-27 advantage on the glass, and 24-to-6 edge on the offensive boards. This led to a 20-4 lead on second chance points.
 
Leaupepe hit LMU's only three at the 8:50 mark of the second half, which started an 8-0 run to bring it to a one possession game, 46-43. The Gauchos answered with nine unanswered of their own, and the game never was closer than eight points the rest of the game.
 
Jalin Anderson returned to the starting lineup and dished out a career-best four assists in his first season.
 
Two teams will next face each other on Saturday afternoon, with LMU hosting the rematch. The game will tip at 2 p.m. and air on the WCC Network and KXLU.