LMU defeats Morgan St 83-56

LMU Dominates Morgan St in Statement Win

In a lopsided non-conference matchup, Loyola Marymount (LMU) used its home court advantage to throttle visiting Morgan State, 83-56, on Tuesday evening at Gersten Pavilion.

The game was a statement win for the Lions, who set the tone early and never looked back. At halftime, LMU led by a staggering 40-21 margin, setting the stage for a blowout victory. The final margin of 27 points was the largest lead of the night, with LMU's Rodney Brown Jr. scoring 29 of his 23 points in the second half.

Brown Jr., who connected on 5-of-9 three-point attempts (57.1% FG) and led all scorers, was instrumental in the Lions' domination. He also contributed 6 rebounds and 2 assists off the bench. Jalen Shelley chipped in with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and an assist, while AJ Thomas added 5 assists and 8 points.

For Morgan State, Rob Lawson led the way with 14 points, but struggled from beyond the arc (1-for-4). Christian Meeks provided a spark on the glass with 8 rebounds, but couldn't make up for his team's overall lackluster performance. The Bears committed 17 turnovers, which LMU capitalized on to outscore their opponents 26-11 in points off turnovers.

LMU's comprehensive team statistics told the story of the night. The Lions shot a blistering 54.0% from the field, including 67.7% from two-point range and 35.0% from three-point range. They also dominated on the glass, outrebounding Morgan State 38-40 but holding an advantage in defensive rebounding 26-20.

The advanced statistics underscored LMU's efficiency on offense (61.1 eFG%) and defense (51.9 FT Rate). The Lions' true shooting percentage was a staggering 62.6%, while their offensive rebounding rate (31.6%) was the highest of the night.

In a game that was expected to be competitive, LMU's performance served as a statement win, showcasing its depth and cohesion. For Morgan State, it was a tough lesson in learning how to compete against power-conference opponents on the road.