Los Angeles – LMU men's basketball completed a second half comeback by hitting 32-of-36 free throws in the win over Prairie View A&M. The Lions knocked down 20 free throws in the second half alone to defeat the Panthers, 83-80.
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The Lions opened the game with a 6-0 lead as
Joe Quintana buried a three pointer and
Dameane Douglas converted a three-point play. Quintana would score a dozen points and Douglas would drop 11. Prairie View A&M took their first with an 8-0 run into the 9:49 mark of the first.
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Keli Leaupepe gave LMU its final lead of the opening half on a three pointer with 8:15 on the clock, before the Panthers built up as high as a six-point lead in the half.
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LMU would tie the score with 25 seconds remaining, before Jawaun Daniels hit three of his 31 points to give the visitors the 40-37 lead at intermission.
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Daniels came out of the break and opened the second half with another three, before LMU put together an 8-0 run capped by a three from Quintana to take the lead, 45-43, less than three minutes into the half. The Panthers responded with a 9-0 run of their own to push ahead by seven.
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After a free throw gave Prairie View A&M an eight-point lead, the highest of the game with 14:37 on the clock,
Cam Shelton started an 8-0 LMU run to tie the game at 54-all.
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The Lions would finally break ahead with a triple from Shelton, who scored all 15 of his points in the second half.
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The game would be tied on two more occasions, but the Lions never allowed the Panthers to retake the lead.
Eli Scott led the Lions with 28 points seven rebounds.
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LMU benefited from being in the bonus two minutes into the second half and shot 20-for-24 from the line over the final 20 minutes, including a perfect 10-for-10 from Shelton.
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The game featured 11 ties and six lead changes.
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LMU will play back at Gersten Pavilion on Monday against Grand Canyon. That game will tip at 7:00 PM.
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