LOS ANGELES – LMU men's basketball moved to 2-1 in conference play after earning the home win over BYU on Thursday night, 64-59. The win is the first for Head Coach Stan Johnson and snaps a eight-game skid against the Cougars.
 
BYU scored the game's first basket before Alex Merkviladze knocked down a three to spark a personal 5-0 run.

After the Cougars retook the lead, Rick Issanza dunked the ball to flip the score and put the Lions back on top. The game featured 17 lead changes and eight tie scores.
 
LMU's largest lead of the first half came with Cam Shelton knocking down a three to cap a 10-1 run and push LMU ahead 22-17. Shelton finished with 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
 
The two teams headed to the locker room tied 33-all at halftime. The Lions shot 11-for-12 from the free throw line in the opening half.
 
The first two LMU field goals of the second half were threes from Merkviladze and Chance Stephens to both erase two-point deficits.
 
Down three, the Lions used a 10-2 run to push back up five and hold the lead for the remainder of the game.
 
The largest lead of the day was eight, which LMU hitting the mark twice. The first came on a Michael Graham fastbreak dunk and the second came on a Keli Leaupepe jumper with 5:25 to play.
 
Leaupepe ended the game with LMU's final six points to help secure the win and lead the team with 15 points.
 
Merkviladze added 12 points and tied for the game-high with six rebounds.
 
LMU benefited on the fast break holding a 10-point advantage in that category, 15-5.

Issanza put his signature on the game with an emphatic dunk in the final 25 seconds to help secure the victory.
 
Conference play continues at home on Saturday night with the San Francisco Dons coming to town. The game will tip at 7:00 PM by Gersten Pavilion.

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