LOS ANGELES – For the second time in as many games, LMU had the ball in the final seconds with a chance to tie the game after chipping away at another second half deficit. The Lions (7-6, 2-3 WCC) missed the potentially game-tying shot in the closing seconds to drop the game, 72-69, to Santa Clara (9-4, 3-2 WCC).
 
The Lions were listed once again by Eli Scott who posted a 20 and 11 double-double, the 19^th of his career. Scott is tied for 7^th all-time in double-double and with his three assists breaks a tie for 10^th all-time in dimes.
 
With 33 seconds remaining in the game, Scott grabbed his own offensive rebound and putback a layup and drew a foul to make it a two-point game, 69-67.
 
LMU fouled after the inbounds and watched Santa Clara split the free throws on the opposite end of the court to keep it a one possession game.
 
Scott quickly drove to the basket to cut it to one, and requiring another LMU foul on the inbound.
 
The Broncos hit both this time, giving the Lions one final possession with no timeouts remaining. Jalin Anderson took the look to tie, but came up short. The freshman grabbed his own offensive rebound by time expired before he could get a second look at the basket. Anderson finished with a career-high nine assists and dropped his turnover count down to just one for the game.
 
Making his first start as a Lion, Kodye Pugh scored 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting and grabbed six rebounds.

Mattias Markusson was perfect from the field and went 8-for-11 from the free throw line to finish with 12 points along with his seven rebounds.
 
LMU's second leading scorer was Keli Leaupepe who hit three threes for 15 points and four rebounds.
 
The Lions outrebounded Santa Clara, 41-25, including holding a 16-2 advantage on the offensive glass.
 
The four games in seven days stretch concludes on Monday as the Lions visit Portland to face the Pilots for a 2:00 pm conference game.