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Improvement Slowed by Second Half Drought
Nov. 15, 2008
Ames, IA - Less than 18 hours before playing their first game of the 2008-09 season, the young Loyola Marymount men's basketball team found themselves back on the floor, this time against the Big 12's Iowa State on their home floor. The young roster showed considerable improvement but a second half scoring drought hindered the upset bid as the Cyclones earned a 67-55 victory at the Hilton Coliseum Saturday afternoon in the 2008 World Vision Classic. "We shared the ball much better in this game. In the first game we had a bad start and had to battle back and cut it to seven before we got out flow offensively," said Bayno. "Today we went in stretches. We really ran our offense well at times, especially late in the first half to get back in it. We also had a stretch were we couldn't score, including the big stretch in the second half." The Lions fell down by as many as 15 in the first half but found their offensive rhythm late and thanks to three long balls from Corey Counts and production from Jarred DuBois and Kevin Young, LMU trimmed the lead to just 33-30 at the break. Sophomore Vernon Teel then opened the second half with a free throw to make it 33-31. LMU had a chance at the lead but DuBois had his three-pointer roll around the rim and out. Craig Brackins then took over, scoring 12 straight points. The Lions remained in striking distance after DuBois hit a three-pointer with 13:43 to play to make the score 47-38. The Lions, however, would be stuck on 38 for the next 6:53 as ISU went on a 13-0 run to make the score 60-38. Teel broke the scoreless drought with a pair of free throws. Young would then hit a jumper 30 seconds later for their first field goal in over seven minutes.
"We are not going to score many points," said Bayno. "We have to run our offense and we only really have one guy who can really break down the defense. This season is about setting the tone and culture of this program and teaching these guys. Each day it is about getting better and we got better today." Counts had an impressive game, hitting 5-for-7 from the field, going 5-for-6 from the three-point line. He finished the game with 15 points and a career-best six rebounds. Teel led the Lions again with his first double-double, going for 17 points and 13 rebounds. Brackins led all scorers with 21. "That is what we need from Corey. We did a good job on our screens and getting him good looks," said Bayno. "We didn't do well on our week side in the second half against Brackins and he hurt us. But mostly it is our offensive struggles. We have five brand new players and we have to figure out how to score." The Lions played a much cleaner contest, turning the ball over just nine times while outrebounding ISU 37-33. However, it was the 23.3 percent shooting (7-for-30) in the second half that spoiled the Lions. LMU finished the game hitting 32.8 percent (19-for-58) while Iowa State went for 48 percent (26-for-54). "Our defense was pretty solid. We did some good things and held hem to just 67 points," said Bayno. "It came down to our offense. We have to learn how to win these ugly games." The Lions will play their third and final game of the World Vision Classic when they face UC Davis at 2:30 p.m. (PT) The game will be on KXLU 88.9 FM and LMULions.com. |
