LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Currently riding a five-game win streak, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (20-6, 9-2 WCC) will begin a two-game road stretch this weekend as the Dons will head south to face Loyola Marymount (10-15, 3-8 WCC) on Saturday evening.

GAME 27 INFORMATION:
Date: Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. PST
Opponent: LMU (10-15, 3-8 WCC)
Site: Gersten Pavilion
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: KNBR 1050
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• San Francisco pulled off an all-time thriller in its last time on the hardwood as the Dons rallied back from a 19-point first half deficit to beat Santa Clara, 71-70, on two game-winning free throws from Jonathan Mogbo in the final seconds of regulation last Saturday night at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. The green and gold ended the game on a 12-3 run in the final 100 seconds of the game, with Mogbo and Ryan Beasley accounting for the last 12 points for USF. Additionally, Malik Thomas got his groove back with a team-high 17 points in the victory while Mike Sharavjamts had arguably his best game in WCC action this season, scoring 14 points in 32 minutes of play, which both marked highs in conference action for the sophomore.
• Mogbo continues to hold the nation's best field goal percentage with a 67.33 percent clip as of Friday night while also ranking ninth in rebounds per game (10.5) and tying for tenth in double doubles. In conference play, the three-time WCC Player of the Week remains first in the league in points per game (17.7) and rebounds per game (11.0).
• After going 8-of-9 from the foul line in the win against the Broncos, Ryan Beasley now holds the WCC's highest free throw percentage in conference play, shooting 91.2 percent (31 made) on 34 attempts from the foul line. Thomas sits right behind his backcourt mate in second, shooting 87.2 percent from the stripe.
• As a unit across league play, the green and gold lead the WCC in free throw percentage (78.9), free throws made per game (15.0), steals per game (8.5) and turnovers forced per game (13.1) along with ranking second in the conference in points per game (81.3), field goal percentage (48.6), and blocks per game (3.6).

SCOUTING THE LIONS:

• After a 3-3 start to conference action, LMU has dropped five straight contests, most recently falling to Gonzaga at home, 91-74, on Thursday night. The Lions had the game within reach as they held a one-point lead early in the second half, but Gonzaga responded by controlling the remainder of the period to pull out the victory.
• In the loss to the Bulldogs, Will Johnston scored a game-high 33 points with seven three-pointers for LMU, tying the second-most points and threes recorded by a WCC player in a single conference game this season.
• Across WCC action, six Lions have been averaging double figures, the most by any team in the conference in league play. Redshirt junior Dominick Harris has led the charge, averaging 13.3 points per game while shooting 42.3 percent from three-point range. Senior Alex Merkviladze has posted 11.4 points per game in conference play to go with 7.2 rebounds per game, good for sixth-most in the WCC. All-WCC Preseason team honoree Keli Leaupepe has scored 11.5 points per contest in conference action, holding the fifth-best free throw percentage in WCC play while shooting 85.2 percent from the stripe.
• As a team, the Lions as a squad hold the WCC's best three-point percentage at 36.3 percent along with averaging the third-most threes per game (8.4) and the second-best free throw percentage (74.3)

SERIES HISTORY:

• Saturday will mark the 169^th meeting all-time between San Francisco and LMU as the Dons currently hold the 119-49 advantage in the all-time series. The two teams last met on the Hilltop on Jan. 18 this year, with the Dons comfortably taking a 90-74 victory to clinch their best start to conference play (4-0) in 45 years. The green and gold have taken the last three matchups against LMU, with the Lions looking for their first victory over San Francisco since Mar. 5, 2021, when they beat USF in the second round of the WCC Tournament, 70-66, in Las Vegas.

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsMBB on Twitter, @USFDonsMBB on Instagram and @USFDonsMBB on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor - ABM - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.