LOS ANGELES – LMU men's basketball led 4-0 before #19 Gonzaga pulled away to take Saturday night's game, 96-68, at Gersten Pavilion.
 
The Lions scored the game's first four points as Alex Merkviladze converted in the paint and Jevon Porter knocked down a pair of free throws.
 
Gonzaga then answered with a 13-3 run to jump ahead. Only Will Johnston's three broke up the scoring for the Lions.
 
After the Bulldogs extended their lead to 22, LMU scored six unanswered points late in the half. Merkviladze hit a corner three and Jan Vide added a runner to his earlier free throw.
 
A closing seconds layup gave the Zags a 46-28 lead at the break.
 
Matar Diop scored his first of two field goals to open the scoring for the Lions in the second half. Diop played 15 minutes and finsihed 2-for-2 from the field with four rebounds, a steal, and a block.
 
Playing in his 100^th collegiate game, Caleb Stone-Carrawell hit a three early in the second half to hit 1,000 points for his career. Stone-Carrawell finished with nine points and led the team with a pair of steals.
 
After Gonzaga pushed it to 27, LMU went on an 11-2 run started by a Porter and-1. Porter scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Both Porter and Johnston hit threes with less than nine minutes to play to help the Lions pull back within 17 on two different occasions. Johnston made his first four threes and finished with a team-high 18 points.
 
The Lions will have another quick turnaround and head to Moraga to face Saint Mary's on Tuesday in a nationally televised game on ESPN2. Tip is scheduled for 8:00 PM from UCU Pavilion.
 
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