Much needed victory over Long Beach could be start of a turnaround

To say the Lions needed that victory last night would be an understatement. After going 0-4 against Division-I opponents to start the season, and holding a disappointing 2-4 record, LMU pulled out an overtime victory over Long Beach State last night to secure its first impressive win of the season. After the 49ers tied the game with a three in the final seconds of regulation, senior guard Vernon Teel led the Lions to a 78-75 victory in the first overtime period.

Teel had his best game of the season, contributing 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Lions. Both junior Drew Viney and redshirt sophomore Ashley Hamilton also had double-doubles, with Viney adding 18 and 12 and Hamilton contributing 13 points and 11 rebounds.


LMU was also helped offensively by Tim Diederichs, who scored 11 points off the bench for the Lions, all coming in the first half.

The Lions did, however, have trouble closing out the game, something that has plagued the team all season long. Leading by 13 points with just over six minutes to go in the game, the Lions allowed the 49ers to go on a 19-6 run to close out regulation, capped by a game-tying three with just five clicks left on the clock.

LMU was helped tremendously by clutch three-point shooting from Teel, who knocked down two free throws with 11 seconds left in regulation as well as two more with seven seconds left in OT. He was 6-7 from the charity stripe in the game.

Viney, who has been the most consistent player for the Lions all season, struggled in the first half, committing three early turnovers and ending the contest with a game-high seven. Also struggling from the field, shooting just 5-14 in the game, Viney came through when the Lions needed him, converting a traditional three-point play on a tough jumper with 41 seconds left in OT to give his team a lead that it never relinquished.

The Lions will now play their sixth and final game of this three-week road trip on Wednesday, when they travel North to face UC Santa Barbara at 7:05 p.m. LMU will face former-Lion Orlando Johnson, who is currently leading the Gauchos in scoring with nearly 25 points per game. The Lions will be looking to even their season record at four.

The Gauchos are 2-3 on the season, and most recently lost to the WCC's Portland, 75-63.