LOS ANGELES – LMU men's basketball could not keep the early lead Saturday night against San Francisco in a tough-fought WCC matchup.
 
The Lions jumped out quickly to an 8-0 lead, keeping the Dons scoreless for the opening five-plus minutes of the game.
 
Alex Merkviladze scored eight points in a four-minute stretch to give LMU a double-digit lead before the midway point of the first half.
 
The lead great to as high as 16, with a 10-2 run pushing LMU ahead 26-10 at the 8:35 mark.
 
San Francisco responded with a 22-5 run of their own to take their first lead of the game, 32-31, with 1:17 on the clock.
 
Keli Leaupepe ended the run and put LMU back on top with his third three of the half. The Lions took a 36-32 lead into the half with Merkviladze and Leaupepe combining with 25 of those points.
 
The Dons jumped out of the locker room with the first 12 points of the second half to go up by eight, their largest lead of the game, 44-36. 
 
LMU chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to a one-possession game six different times until a 6-0 run finally pushed the Lions back on top. Cam Shelton converted a three-point play and knocked down a free throw to give LMU the 61-60 advantage with 5:39 remaining.
 
San Francisco responded with back-to-back layups and provided an answer on the other end on each ensuing LMU score. Shelton scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half, with three shots in the final two and a half minutes to make it a one-possession game each time.
 
Leaupepe hit a three at the buzzer to finish with a game-high 22 points.
 
LMU committed 17 turnovers, one off the season high. 
 
Leaupepe, Shelton, and Merkviladze combined for over 75 percent (53 points) of LMU's points. Justin Ahrens added eight points off the bench a pair of threes.
 
Shelton added game-highs with seven rebounds and six assists.

The Lions will next hit the road to face Saint Mary's in Moraga next Thursday before returning to Gersten Pavilion on Saturday, Jan. 14 to host San Diego.

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