LOS ANGELES — In a game that defined “West Coast Conference grit,” the Loyola Marymount Lions (11-7, 2-3 WCC) outlasted the San Francisco Dons (11-7, 3-2) in a heart-stopping 84-82 double-overtime thriller on Thursday night.
The hero of the evening was freshman sensation Jalen Shelley, who drove the length of the floor to bank in a game-winning layup with just five seconds remaining in the second extra period. The shot capped off a back-and-forth marathon that saw both teams trade blows for 50 grueling minutes at Gersten Pavilion.
The Slovenian Spark: Jan Vide’s Masterclass
While Shelley provided the final exclamation point, the Lions wouldn’t have been in a position to win without a sensational performance from guard Jan Vide. The Slovenian international, who recently transferred from UCLA, was the engine of the LMU offense all night.
Vide finished with a team-high 23 points, supplementing his scoring with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. His ability to penetrate the Dons’ defense and find open teammates kept LMU afloat during a second half where buckets were hard to come by. Vide was also lethal from the charity stripe, finishing a perfect 6-of-6 on free throws.
“Jan is a special talent. He has that European poise that you just can’t teach,” Lions coach Stan Johnson said post-game. “When the game slows down in overtime, you want the ball in his hands.”
Game Timeline: A Literal Tug-of-War
The game was a defensive chess match from the tip-off. Both teams entered the tunnel at halftime locked in a 31-31 tie, with LMU’s Rodney Brown Jr. leading the charge with nine early points.
Regulation: 67-67
The second half was a mirror image of the first. San Francisco’s Ryan Beasley was nearly unstoppable, carving up the Lions’ perimeter defense to the tune of a game-high 32 points. However, LMU’s Aaron McBride countered with a dominant interior presence, contributing 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting and adding four massive blocks.
With seconds left in regulation, San Francisco’s Tyrone Riley IV sank a pair of clutch free throws to tie the game at 67, sending the Los Angeles crowd into a frenzy as the buzzer sounded for overtime.
First Overtime: The Vide Equalizer
The first overtime period belonged to the defenses. Neither team could build more than a three-point lead. With San Francisco up by two in the waning moments, Vide once again took charge, driving through traffic to score a layup with seven seconds left to tie the game and force a second overtime.
Second Overtime: Shelley’s Moment
The final five minutes were a test of endurance. After a two-minute scoring drought where both teams missed contested jumpers, the score remained deadlocked. With the clock winding down, Jalen Shelley saw an opening. The 6-foot-8 forward took the ball at the top of the key, bypassed two defenders, and laid it in to give LMU the 84-82 edge. San Francisco’s desperation heave at the buzzer fell short, sealing the win for the Lions.
Key Stat Leaders
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Special |
| Jan Vide | LMU | 23 | 7 | 7 | 6/6 FT |
| Ryan Beasley | USF | 32 | 6 | 2 | 4 3PM |
| Aaron McBride | LMU | 18 | 5 | 1 | 4 Blocks |
| Jalen Shelley | LMU | 17 | 9 | 1 | Game-Winning Shot |
What This Means for the WCC Standings
This victory is a massive momentum shifter for Loyola Marymount. After a rocky start to conference play, including a tough loss to No. 7 Gonzaga earlier in the week, the Lions have proven they can compete with the upper echelon of the WCC.
For San Francisco, the loss is a bitter pill to swallow. Despite Beasley’s heroic 32-point effort and a solid contribution from Legend Smiley (16 points off the bench), the Dons were unable to close out the Lions in transition.
Looking Ahead
The Lions won’t have much time to celebrate. They hit the road this weekend for a tough matchup against Santa Clara on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Dons will look to bounce back as they head to North Carolina to face Carolina (Wait, checking schedule… they are actually at Pepperdine on Saturday).