STOCKTON, Calif. – For the second straight game, a closely contested battle just didn't finish in favor of the Pacific men's basketball program as LMU escaped with a 73-68 result Thursday at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
 
Pacific (6-16, 1-7 WCC) trailed LMU (12-8, 4-4 WCC) by 11 when it came back to tie it 56-56 midway through the second half. Despite the Lions getting back ahead down the stretch, the game was within striking distance the entire way but LMU was able to hold off the Tigers in the end.
 
The Tigers were coming off a tight 84-81 overtime defeat at Portland.
 
Pacific pulled down 12 offensive rebounds and outrebounded LMU 39-33 overall, but the Lions hit enough timely shots in the second half to stay in front, especially from the three-point line. LMU finished 10-of-22 (.455) from long range.
 
The Tigers garnered a pair of big nights from the Canadian duo of senior Elias Ralph and junior Elijah Fisher. Ralph registered 20 points and a season-high 17 rebounds, while Fisher tallied 21 points and seven rebounds.
 
Ralph became the first Pacific student-athlete with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in a game since Jahlil Tripp recorded 24 points and 15 rebounds against Pepperdine on Feb. 8, 2020.
 
Junior Lamar Washington also reached double-figures with 11 points, six assists and two steals. Sophomore Jazz Gardner notched six points, seven rebounds and matched his career-high with three blocks.
 
The Lions were led by Myron Amey Jr's 24 points, which included five three-pointers. He scored 24 of LMU's 32 bench points.
 
Pacific trailed 13-7 early when sophomore Petar Krivokapic hit a pair of three-pointers within eight seconds of each other after a steal to even it 13-13 at the 13:12 mark. The game was still knotted 25-25 after a pair of free throws by Ralph with 7:08 to go.
 
LMU used an 11-1 run to create mild separation in the first half and went up 36-26 with 2:21 to go. Junior Jefferson Koulibaly scored the last bucket of the half on a mid-range jumper, but the Lions remained ahead 43-34.
 
The Tigers showed a lot of fight in the second half and quickly trimmed the deficit to 49-45 after a three by Ralph with 16:04 left. A dunk by Gardner kept the margin at 55-51 at the 12:06 mark.
 
Pacific tied it 56-56 after a three by Ralph with 9:37 remaining. The Tigers were never able to grab the lead, but remained within one possession 68-65 with 4:40 to go after a lay-in by Ralph.
 
The Tigers will hit the road Saturday for a 7 p.m. game against Pepperdine. The game can be watched live on ESPN+ and can be heard on Fox Sports 1280 AM with Zack Bayrouty on the call.
 
NOTES
- Pacific is now 16-14 all-time at home against LMU. The Tigers have won four of the last six home games in the series.
 
- The Tigers are now 807-459 all-time at home and 344-226 in the Alex G. Spanos Center.
 
- Pacific's eight turnovers were its second-lowest of the season. The Tigers had just six against Idaho on Dec. 21, 2024.
 
- Ralph surpassed his previous season-high of 13 rebounds against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. His career-high is 18 rebounds against Brandon as a member of the University of Victoria. Ralph turned in his 19th career double-double, eighth of the season and second in a row. It was his 18th career 20-plus scoring performance and sixth this year.
 
- Fisher etched his eighth career 20-plus scoring game and seventh this season. Both he and Ralph have scored in double-figures in 21 of 22 games this season. Fisher continues to work his way to the free throw line with eight attempts on the night after entering the game ranked 11th in the nation in free throw attempts.
 
- Washington submitted his 16th career double-figure scoring outing and 14th this year. He entered the game ranked eighth in the nation in total assists and 17th in assists per game (6.3) and was right near par with six.
 
- Washington ranks eighth in the nation in total assists (132) and 17th in assists per game (6.3).
 

Elijah Fisher with the SLAM! We got a good one in Stockton! ??#PacificProud | #WCChoops pic.twitter.com/IgD2Nefpzk

— Pacific Men's Basketball (@PacificMensBB) January 24, 2025

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