Let the season begin.
LMU's men's basketball season is here and its a battle with UCLA, the 17th-ranked team in the nation to start 2011-12.
The Lions travel to the LA Sports Arena for the first time since 2006 when they played USC. The Sports Arena has a whole new look, as UCLA will call it home while the tradition-rich Pauley Pavilion gets a face lift.
We are 13:00 away from the start of the season. Follow the game live right here while watching on FS West... more to come...
DEFENSE early. JD with a steal and Okonji with a block. Hamilton scores Lions first two buckets. Tied 4-4 with 17 to play first half...
Lions get UCLA's big man, Smith, with his second foul at 12:30 mark... Blackwell hits a big shot, LMU up 13-9...
Second media timeout. Lions hitting big shots and limiting bigger UCLA on the boards early for a 19-13 lead. UCLA struggling from the floor - shooting just 35 percent. LMU hitting 53 percent.
Lions defense is running as UCLA calls another timeout. LMU leads 23-18 after DuBois floater. A three-pointer by Ireland stretched the lead to 26-18. However, UCLA's 9-0 run gives them the lead 27-26.
The teams go back and forth down the stretch until Ireland banks in a floater at the buzzer to give the Lions a 34-33 lead at the break.
Lions score first four of the second half. 38-35 LMU.
UCLA takes a 42-41 lead, however, a Hamilton lay-in and a steal and lay-in by Ireland gives the Lions a 45-42 lead and UCLA calls a timeout. Ireland has 18 points, three assists and two steals. Monster game for the second-year guard.
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