LOS ANGELES — LMU fell to California 60-59 on Friday night in the first of a pair of preseason exhibitions.
The Lions were ahead 59-57 before Nojus Indrusaitis put California in front 60-59 with seven seconds remaining.
The Lions built an early 8-2 lead behind a
Jasai Miles putback, a
Zion Sensley 3-pointer in transition and an
All Wright layup. California pulled even at 10 on Michael Cooper's 3-pointer, and after
Donovan Rivers helped the Lions move back ahead, California briefly went in front before
Mazi Mosley's layup made it 15-14 at 9:32.
California later used two Nojus Indrusaitis free throws to take a 20-19 lead, but
Jevon Porter answered with a jumper at 4:02, and the Lions pushed the margin to 29-22 on baskets by
Aaron McBride and Wright around a Mosley free throw. California cut the gap to 29-27 in the final minute, but Rivers scored inside with 22 seconds left and blocked Jordan Ross' layup in the closing second as the Lions took a 31-27 lead into halftime.
After Sammie Yeanay's steal and dunk made it 31-29 early in the second half,
All Wright scored inside, Jake Wilkins made two free throws for California, and
Jevon Porter's second-chance 3-pointer and
Mazi Mosley's two free throws pushed the Lions to a 38-31 lead. California pulled within 38-35 on Michael Cooper's jumper and Nojus Indrusaitis' dunk after a steal, but the Lions kept the lead with Wright's jumper,
Donovan Rivers' layup and free throw, Porter's 3-pointer and
Aaron McBride's layup and free throw to reach 49-39 at 7:42.
After
Zion Sensley's layup gave the Lions a 51-43 lead, California got back into it at the line and inside, with Lee Dort's dunk and later free throw making it 51-50, and Wilkins' layup and free throw at 3:10 put California ahead 53-52 before Wright's two free throws moved the Lions back in front 54-53. McBride and Wright free throws gave the Lions a 56-53 lead, but Mantas Kocanas scored at 1:40 and Cooper put California ahead 57-56 at :51; Miles tied it with a free throw, Wright's layup at :14 put the Lions ahead 59-57, and Indrusaitis answered with a 3-pointer at :07 before Mosley's final layup missed in California's 60-59 win.
Wright's driving layup looked like it would put the Lions ahead for good before the Golden Bears hit a dagger three on the ensuing possession to mark the final score.
Wright scored 14 points and made 5 of 11 field goals, Porter had 10 rebounds, 8 points and 2 blocks, McBride finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds while making 4 of 5 field goals, and
Mazi Mosley added 6 assists and 5 points.
Up next, the Lions basketball team hosts UCSB on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. at Gersten Pavilion in their final tune up before the regular season begins.
