To this point, the average margin of victory for the St. Louis Billikens had been 18 points, and that includes their victory over the weekend in the Anaheim Honda Center hosted 76 Tournament defeating the Oklahoma Sooners by 20 points. However, the Atlantic 10 conference team ran out of gas against the LMU Lions, who were able to win 75-68. Loyola Marymount picked up their fourth victory of the year and their second signature win after a victory over UCLA in the season opener.
The game was close throughout, with LMU closing the gap before halftime after trailing by as much as 12 points, then taking over the lead halfway through the second half. LMU got double digit scoring performances from three of their players; Anthony Ireland, Jarred DuBois, and LaRon Armstead. Armstead's 22 points off the bench leading all scorers was crucial to say the least.
The previously undefeated Billikens had knocked off the Washington Huskies, Villanova, and the previously mentioned Sooners, and were starting to get bracket buster buzz after taking the 76 Tournament. Cody Ellis, who was able to score 11 points in the first half for St. Louis was held to seven in the second half. With Armstead and DuBois with 14 points each in the second half, the Lions were able to pull away and never look back.
The biggest difference in the game was points off turnovers, with LMU getting 18 points to St. Louis' eight. To score 75 points on a team that hadn't given up more than 60 all season is a credit to both how well LMU played and how sloppy the tired Billikens played. Both teams shot with similar accuracy, but St. Louis gave LMU more opportunities than they were able to create for themselves.