LOS ANGELES – LMU men's basketball played a complete game on Saturday afternoon and defeated the University of Texas at El Paso, 67-47. The Lions held UTEP to 30 percent (16-for-53) and under 12 percent (2-for-17) from three to put together the 20-point win.
 
In the first half, the Lions used a 12-0 run to take a 20-9 lead on the Miners. Dominick Harris hit the go-ahead three to start the run and give LMU an 11-9 advantage. Keli Leaupepe knocked down back-to-back threes in the middle of that stretch to push the lead to double-digits.
 
Will Johnson punctuated a different 7-0 run with a three and Justin Wright hit a three of his own on a 5-0 streak to push the lead to 15 points. Wright completed an and-1, and Justice Hill sped into a fastbreak layup to give LMU a 17-point advantage with 1:33 to play in the half. The Lions carried a 37-24 into halftime.
 
Alex Merkivakadze hit a corner three to open the second half and hit LMU's first two field goals after intermission. Merkviladze led all players with nine rebounds.
 
UTEP used a 13-4 run over a seven-plus minute stretch to pull back within single digits for the first time since the score was 22-13 in the first half. The Lions were quick to respond and scored 17 of the next 19 points over an eight-minute window of the game to bring the Lions to the last four minutes. Lars Thiemann scored eight points in that run, Wright added six points to get to 20 for the game, and Leaupepe hit his third three of the night. Both Thiemann and Leaueppe finished with 13 points apiece.
 
The Miners did not hit a three in the second half, missing all eight attempts.
 
The Lions outrebounded UTEP, 41-37, and befitted from 14 second chance points compared to allowing just four.
 
The Lions will remain home on Wednesday to host Central Arkansas at 7:00 PM.
 
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