LOS ANGELES – The LMU men's basketball team never found the answer Saturday night in an 83-51 loss to Saint Mary's.
Eli Scott scored first to give LMU a 2-0 lead, and
Joe Quintana gave the Lions a second lead at 4-2 before Saint Mary's rattled off 15 unanswered points. The Gaels went on a 22-2 run that increased their lead to 18 points.
The Lions responded with 17-6 run to cut the deficit down to single digits at 17-6.
Cam Shelton started and ended the run and led the Lions with nine first half points before finishing with a dozen.
Jalin Anderson knocked down a three 1:35 to play in the first half to bring the game within two possessions, 32-26. SMC took a 37-26 lead into the break.
Saint Mary's increased their lead in the second half to take the game.
Anderson scored half of his 12 points in each half to share team-high scoring honors with Shelton.
Coming in late,
David Elliott IV scored four points and
Quentin Jackson, Jr. hit a triple.
The Gaels shot 54 percent (32-for-59) compared to the 35 percent (17-for-48) from the Lions.
The Lions will face Gonzaga on Thursday in Spokane before returning home on Saturday to host San Diego at Gersten Pavilion.
