Lions bash Billikens for second win over ranked opponent

Senior LaRon Armstead had a career-high 22 points

For the second time this season the Lions defeated a nationally ranked opponent, taking down the previously undefeated No. 23 Saint Louis at Gersten Pavilion 75-68. Senior LaRon Armstead came up huge for the Lions, pouring in a game-high, and career-high, 22 points and shooting an impressive 10-10 from the free throw line.

Saint Louis led by as many as 12 points in the first period, but a late half surge by the Lions cut the Billikens lead to four at the break. The second half was all LMU, as the team shot 62 percent from the field and 80 percent from long-range.

Ayodegi Egbeyemi and Bruce English react to the win

Sophomore point guard Anthony Ireland once again steadied the ship for LMU, scoring important buckets down the stretch.  He finished with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists.

For the second straight game the Lions received extremely balanced scoring. When Ireland was forced to the bench with foul trouble with 12 minutes to play in the game, junior guard Jarred DuBois picked up right where his teammate had left off. DuBois finished the game with 16 points and played a game-high 36 minutes. He at one point in the second half scored seven straight points, and turned a one-point deficit into a six-point lead.

Prior to this contest, the 6-0 Saint Louis hadn't trailed in the second half of a game all season.

The Lions (4-2) will host a tournament this weekend, set to take the court Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. First, they will host Columbia at 7 p.m. Friday night. Drew Viney is expected to be back in the lineup for the first time this season.