With a victory over Portland, Loyola Marymount University men’s basketball team broke its losing streak at four by splitting a pair of West Coast Conference games at home last week.
A recap:
Jan. 23: 77-65 vs. Portland: Keli Leaupepe, a freshman forward from Australia, and Parker Dortch, a junior forward from New Jersey, each posted career scoring highs with 24 and 20 points respectively. The Lions never trailed, leading by as many as 17 as Dortch scored 18 points in the first half. Leaupepe also collected eight rebounds while Eli Scott had 13 rebounds and 10 assists. For Portland, junior guard JoJo Walker (from St. Joseph HS, Santa Maria) scored a team-high 17.
Jan. 25: 62-73 vs. St. Mary’s: The Gaels dominated the first half, leading 43-21 on 59 percent shooting, and LMU’s late rally --- to within seven with four minutes to play --- wasn’t quite enough. Scott led the Lions with 18 points and Jordan Bell had 14, but the Lions totaled only 22 rebounds and eight assists.
Upcoming: LMU (8-13 overall, 2-5 WCC) plays at Pacific (15-8, 3-4) on Jan. 30 before a home rematch with Pepperdine (11-10, 4-3) on Feb. 1. LMU then plays at national No. 1 Gonzaga, the WCC leader, on Feb. 6.
