SAN FRANCISCO – Senior guard Jamaree Bouyea put on a display at both ends of the floor and finished with a career-high 33 points, but it was enough as Loyola Marymount came back from eight down at the half to defeat USF 68-63 on Thursday night at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
USF (10-11, 4-7 WCC) had a strong defensive night, creating 22 LMU turnovers which led to 23 points for the Dons.  For the night, USF shot 37.7 percent from the field going 23-for-61.  The Dons were just 10-for-31 from the field in the second half, including 5-for-22 from 3-point range.
 
Bouyea finished the night 11-for-26 from the field and was 4-for-12 from beyond the arc in 40 minutes of action.  He also had three assists, three rebounds and three steals.  Joining Bouyea in double figures was Khalil Shabazz with 10 points. Shabazz was 5-for-12 from the field but 0-for-7 from beyond the arc. Julian Rishwain added eight points and four rebounds off the bench.
 
LMU (11-6, 6-3 WCC) had four players in double figures, Eli Scott had 18 points, Mattias Markusson had 11 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double.  Keli Leaupepe had 14 points and Ivan Alpiev had 12.
 
Despite not making a field goal over the final 5:40 were able to get the thanks to their play on the glass. The Lions outrebounded the Dons 39-25 on the evening, but none was bigger than the rebound by Eli Scott with 1:05 in the contest.  The Dons were leading 63-62 when Scott missed the back end of a 1-on-1.  Following the offensive rebound, Scott was fouled and made both free throws to give LMU a 64-63 lead.
 
The Lions were able to extend that thanks to the free throw line.  The Lions were 13-for-16 from the free throw line in the second half – 9-for-10 over the final five minutes.  
 
The first half ended with the Dons leading 33-25. USF had six fast break points and converted 13 LMU turnovers into 13 points.  The Dons were playing stingy defense, holding everyone but Scott in check.
 
With 13:03 to play in the first half, a steal by Shabazz led to an easy layup giving the Dons a 16-7 lead, their largest lead of the night. But the Dons could not keep the momentum going and put the Lions away. Leaupepe hit a three with 7:23 left before halftime to give the Lions a 22-21 lead.
 
A 10-0 run led by Bouyea had the Dons going into the locker room with the momentum.  Bouyea had eight of the Dons 10 points during the run, hitting back-to-back 3-point field goals and getting a steal and an easy layup.
 
Out of the break the Lions went on a 9-0 run, their largest run of the night. With 15:47 to play Parker Dortch hit the first of four second half field goals to give LMU a 39-38 lead.  The second half featured five lead changes and six ties.  The last coming with the free throws by Scott with just over a minute to play.
 
The Dons will return to action on Thursday when they travel to Provo, Utah to take on BYU at the Marriott Center. Thursday's game is slated for a 6:00 p.m. PT start. Pat Olson will have the Dons' radio broadcast on the home of USF Dons Basketball, KNBR 1050-AM.