LOS ANGELES – LMU erased a 17-point deficit but could not hold on for the win on Friday night against Stony Brook. The Lions dropped the game, 71-68, despite a career-high 22 points from Rokas Jocius.
 
After an opening three from the visitors, LMU scored the next six points to take an early 6-3 lead on three consecutive paint points. Stony Brook responded with a 26-6 run over the next 8:35 to take a 29-12 lead.
 
The Lions responded with a 11-3 run of their own over the next four minutes to pull within single digits with less than five minutes to go in the half. LMU missed their first nine threes of the game before Jocius and Rodney Brown at the 5:58 and 3:48 marks, respectively.
 
The Seawolves shot 50 percent (14-for-28) from the field in the first half to carry a 41-30 lead into intermission. The 41 points allowed by LMU is tied with FAU for the most an opponent has scored in a first half this season.
 
Following a Stony Brook three to open the second half, the Lions went on a 24-6 run over the next 10-plus minutes to take their first lead since three minutes into play. The run ended with 13-unansered points as Jocius recorded back-to-back dunks to cut the score to 50-45. Nakyel Shelton, Brown, and Myron "MJ" Amey, Jr. hit three-consecutive threes to give LMU a 54-50 lead with 9:15 on the clock.
 
Stony Brook pulled within one-point five different leading into the final minute of play, and LMU had an answer in three of those first four times. Amey hit a layup and a pair of threes, while Brown also hit a big three to keep the LMU up four. Both Amey and Brown hit three threes apiece. Amey finished with 15 points and Brown scored 10. 
 
The Seawolves closed the game on a 7-0 run over the final 3:30 to erase the four-point deficit and pull out the win. The Lions missed their final nine shots to close the game after making five in a row immediately prior.
 
Jocius's 22 points surpassed the 20 he scored against Rhode Island in February of 2024 as part of his previous career high. Jocius was 6-for-7 from the floor, 1-for-2 from three and 9-for-10 from the free throw line. He also grabbed a game-high and season-high eight-rebounds.
 
The Lions will play Saint Louis on Tuesday night back at home. The game will tip at 7:00 PM.
 
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