SPOKANE, Wash. – LMU men's basketball kept the game within one possession through the first 12 minutes of play before #2 Gonzaga used a run to build their lead and take the game. The Zags took the game 89-55 on Thursday night.
 
Eli Scott opened the scoring to put LMU ahead 2-0 on his layup out the gate. After Gonzaga tied it, Kwane Marble II pushed the Lions up a pair with a layup of his own. The Zags hit a three to take their first lead before Keli Leaupepe matched it on the offensive end and gave the Lions a 7-5 advantage.
 
The Bulldogs took a five-point advantage before the Lions tied it at 10-all with 11:45 to play. The game remained a one-possession battle at Alex Merkviladze hit a three to bring it within a point at 14-13 and Leaupepe added to his strong first half with another layup to bring the Lions back to two down at 17-15.
 
Scott hit a layup to make it 20-17 that turned into an LMU dry spell until the senior ended a 15-0 Gonzaga run with a driving dunk. The Zags took a 36-19 lead into halftime.
 
The Lions scored seven of the first nine points out of the locker room to cut the deficit down to a dozen at the 16:43 mark. Leaupepe contributed with a person 5-0 run during that stretch to bring the score to 38-26.
 
Jalin Anderson hit a pair of jumpers, including a three to beat the shot clock, to keep the game within 15 before Gonzaga built it up the rest of the way down the stretch.
 
Late baskets for LMU came from Alex Merkviladze, Marble, Joe Quintana, Quentin Jackson, Jr., Anderson, and Lamaj Lewis. In total nine of the 10 Lions to play scored, led by the 12 points of Leaupepe.
 
Both Leaupepe and Scott grabbed eight rebounds with over half coming on the offensive glass. The Lions outrebounded Gonzaga, 35-34.
 
LMU will have a quick return to The Bluff, with San Diego coming to Gersten Pavilion on Saturday at 4:00 PM.