LOS ANGELES – LMU men's basketball picked up their fourth consecutive win on Friday afternoon after outscoring Bellarmine by 18 in the second half. Five different players scored in double-digits for the Lions in the 80-59 win over the Knights.
 
After three-plus minutes without either team scoring to open the game, Justin Ahrens hit the first of LMU's season-high 15 three pointers. LMU scored 14 of the first 17 points as Chance Stephens and Alex Merkviladze also hit threes early in the game.
 
Bellarmine cut into the deficit and brought the game within one point twice in the half but were unable to tie or take the lead. Merkviladze and Stephens each hit threes for LMU's final points before intermission as LMU took a 37-34 lead into the locker room.
 
The second half was all Lions, as LMU shot 50 percent (13-for-26) from the field and 53.3 percent (8-for-15) from three to build the lead to as large as 26 points.
 
An 18-4 run over the first eight-plus minutes of the second half extended LMU's one-possession lead at halftime to 55-38 with 12:49 to play. Keli Leaupepe scored seven of the points in that extended run and all 15 of his points in the second half.
 
Ahrens scored a season-high 15 points and led the Lions with four made threes. Stephens and Jalin Anderson each hit three threes apiece to join in double-figures and finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Merkviladze added 10 points off the bench as five Lions recorded double-digit scoring for the first time since opening night against Life Pacific.
 
The Lions held the Knights to 5-for-22 (23 percent) shooting from long range.
 
LMU turned the ball over only nine times, including a final possessional sportsmanship shot clock violation. The previous low for the Lions this season was 11 turnovers.
 
Kwane Marble II made his season debut on Friday, scoring five points on 1-for-1 shooting and recording a steal that led to three points on his first play of the season.

Following the four-game win streak, LMU returns on the road this Wednesday for a midweek game at Colorado State in Fort Collins. The Lions return home to follow, hosting Nevada on Dec. 3.
 
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