LAS VEGAS – LMU men's basketball held a double-digit lead for the final 13-plus minutes of the second half in Thursday night's First Round win in the WCC Tournament. The Lions extended a 10-point halftime lead to defeat San Diego (9-23), 75-61.
 
The Lions were lifted by three double-digit scorers and highlighted by Keli Leaupepe's first-career double-double. The freshman grabbed 10 rebounds and was a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line as part of his 23-point night.
 
Bo Kimble holds the program record for single-game made free throws without a miss at 17-for-17. The WCC Tournament has seen three others go perfect from the free throw line with a minimum of 10 attempts.
 
Leaupepe scored LMU's first six points, as part of a 9-2 start by the Lions. LMU gave up the lead just one time in the game, 16-14 with 7:06 to play in the first half.
 
With the score tied at 18-all, LMU scored 10 consecutive points in 1:45 to push ahead 28-18 with 3:17 to play. The Lions closed the half on an extended 14-4 run to take a 32-22 lead into the break.
 
San Diego scored seven of the first nine points of the second half before LMU responded with a 13-2 run to push the lead to 16 points with 11:37 on the clock. Parker Dortch capped the run with an And-1 off a pass to himself on an inbounds play. The lead remained double-digits for the remainder of the game.
 
Eli Scott shot an efficient 6-for-7 from the field for 16 points and seven rebounds.
 
Ivan Alipiev added 12 points including a pair of threes.
 
The Lions made a season-high 28 free throws and shot a season-best 87.5 percent (28-for-32). LMU's 39 rebounds were three off the season-best, and nearly doubled the 20 grabbed by the Toreros.
 
The win sets LMU up with a rematch with San Francisco for the second time within a week. The Lions and Dons played a thriller on Saturday in the home finale that ended in a two-point game. Second round action will tip-off at 6 p.m. again from the Orleans Arena.