LAS VEGAS – LMU men's basketball will advance to the quarterfinals of the 2021 West Coast Conference Championships following a Friday night win over San Francisco. The Lions (13-8, 7-5 WCC) topped the Dons (11-14, 4-9 WCC) for the third time this season, with a 70-66 win following an 11-4 run to end the game.
 
The Lions were lifted by senior Eli Scott's 24 points and 14 rebounds on 9-for-11 shooting. Scott also controlled the ball with a season-low one turnover. Scott's 21^st career double-double moves him into sixth all-time in program history.

In total, four Lions scored double-digits, with center Mattias Markusson going 5-for-6 from the field and 7-for-7 from the free throw line for 17 points and six rebounds. Ivan Alipiev and Jalin Anderson scored 10 points apiece.
 
The Lions used an 8-0 run in the first half to erase a four-point deficit and turn it into a 16-13 lead just before the 12-minute mark.
 
The two teams traded the lead a total of 21 times in the game, but went to the half all tied at 31-all.
 
Neither team held more than a five-point cushion in the ballgame. Anderson gave the Lions a five-point lead at the 12:26 mark to push LMU ahead, 48-43. The freshman only took four shots and hit three en route to his double-figures. San Francisco built up their five-point lead, 57-52, with 7:11 to play.
 
LMU closed the game on a 12-4 run to clinch the win. Eli Scott made the two field goals for the Lions down that stretch, getting fouled each time and earning a trip to the line. The final and-1 with 24 seconds left put the Lions up for good.
 
LMU shot 63.2 percent (12-19) in the first half and 57.1 percent (12-for-21) in the second half for a season-high 60.0 percent (24-for-40) shooting in the game.
 
The Lions will face Saint Mary's Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. on ESPNU from Orleans Arena. The Gaels took the lone matchup between the two teams in a one-possession game back in January.