Loyola Marymount University Athletics

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Down six points with 2:39 to play, LMU men's basketball (10-6, 5-3 WCC) used the shoulders of senior Eli Scott to lift the team into a late victory. Scott, not only scored a career-high 37 points, but hit the game-winning jump shot with 14 seconds to play, before eventually earning the 76-73 win on Tuesday night over Santa Clara (9-5, 3-3 WCC).
 
Following Scott's jumper, LMU forced a travel with four seconds remaining and a one-point lead. The Broncos fouled Joe Quintana who calmly knocked down a pair of free throws to extend the lead. Coming out of a timeout, the home team had a look to tie, but were unable to force overtime. Quintana finished with a dozen points, but hit 7-for-8 from the line.
 
Scott scored 22 of his 37 points in the second half. The senior shot 9-for-12 from the field after intermission, and 15-for-22 in the game. Scott also grabbed six rebounds to surpass 700 in his LMU career.
 
Keli Leaupepe recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Four of his boards came on the offensive glass to keep possessions alive for the Lions.
 
Mattias Markusson also had two big dunks down the stretch as part of LMU's 44 points in the paint.
 
Prior to the Scott go-ahead shot, LMU last led with 9:03 to play in the second half, before Santa Clara built up a lead as large as seven points with 3:12 to play.
 
The game opened with an opening layup by Quintana, the Lions found themselves training 7-2 early. LMU used a 7-0 run of their own to retake the lead less than five minutes into the game as a pair of Scott layups sandwiched a Quintana three. 
 
LMU's first half lead grew to as many as eight points on two occasions, both following made baskets from Keli Leaupepe. The sophomore buried a triple to push the Lions ahead 27-19 at the 7:14 mark, and then added a layup at 5:44 to give LMU a 29-21 lead. The Lions carried a three-point lead at the half, 37-34.
 
This is the first game this season that LMU has won when shooting a lower percentage from the field. The Lions shot exactly 50 percent (27-for-54), while Santa Clara eclipsed 51 percent.

LMU will head to San Francisco immediately after the game to face the Dons on Thursday night.