MORAGA, Calif. – LMU cut an 18-point second half deficit into 10 but could not overcome a tough Saint Mary's team on Thursday night in WCC play. Each team scored 41 in the second half with the Gaels taking the game, 76-62.
 
Keli Leaupepe hit LMU's opening shot to give the Lions an early 3-2 lead. Chance Stephens put LMU ahead by three, 9-6, with a three of his own at the 14:26 mark of the first. Neither team shot well from three in the first half, with LMU hitting 2-of-10 and Saint Mary's hitting 1-of-9 from behind the arc.
 
After SMC retook the lead, Lamaj Lewis tied the game at 11-all with 13:13 on the clock. From there, the Gaels went on a 12-2 run to go ahead by double-digits with just over six minutes to play until halftime.
 
A pair of dunks by Rick Issanza cut it to an eight-point game on two separate occasions, before Saint Mary's carried a 14-point lead into intermission, leading 35-21.
 
Michael Graham started a 9-2 run with an offensive rebound and putback layup to make it a 47-36 game with 12 minutes to play.
 
Shelton converted an and-1 at the 7:21 mark to bring it within 10. The Lions pulled within 10 a second time as Leaupepe hit a layup and Alex Merkviladze followed with a three with 4:49 to play. Merkviladze scored all nine of his points in the second half with a pair of threes. Shelton scored 15 of his team-high 18 points in the second half.
 
The Lions outscored the Gaels 18-8 in bench points as nine players scored three or more points.

Leaupepe grabbed a game-high eight rebounds, while Shelton combined with Jalin Anderson for seven of LMU's nine assists.

The Lions will return to Gersten Pavilion on Saturday night for a home matchup against San Diego. The day will begin with the women's team hosting the Toreros at 3:00 PM and then the men's team closing out the night with a 7:00 PM tip.
 
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