LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Jalen Shelley scored 24 points and Loyola Marymount used a dominant first-half performance to build an insurmountable lead, cruising to an 83-63 victory over San Diego in a West Coast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Gersten Pavilion.

The Lions, who evened their season record at 13-13, seized control from the opening tip and led 37-20 at halftime. The Toreros, who fell to 10-16, never recovered from their frigid start, shooting just 25.7 percent from the floor in the opening period and committing seven turnovers.

Loyola Marymount’s interior dominance was the story of the game. The Lions outscored San Diego 48-30 in the paint and outrebounded them 38-28, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities with eight offensive rebounds. The Lions’ offensive efficiency was stark, scoring 83 points on just 65 possessions for a rating of 127.7, while San Diego managed only 63 points on 63 possessions for a rating of 99.6.

Shelley, a 6-foot-8 forward from Little Elm, Texas, was the catalyst, adding two assists in 33 minutes. He was complemented by backcourt mates Jan Vide and Rodney Brown. Vide, a guard from Domzale, Slovenia, contributed 13 points and two assists, while Brown, from Perris, California, added 16 points and two assists.

San Diego showed more life after halftime, scoring 43 points, but could never cut the deficit to single digits. The Lions consistently answered any Torero push, maintaining a double-digit margin throughout the final 20 minutes.

Dominique Ford led San Diego with 14 points. Juanse Gorosito scored 11, and Brandon Benjamin provided a spark off the bench with 10 points, all in the second half. The Toreros struggled mightily from beyond the arc, making only 5 of 21 three-point attempts, and managed just four assists as a team.

The most critical stretch of the game occurred early, as Loyola Marymount established its commanding lead. After a slow start from both teams, the Lions embarked on a decisive 17-4 run midway through the first half. The surge was fueled by physical defense and efficient offense inside. A Rodney Brown three-pointer pushed the lead to 11-4, and after a San Diego timeout, Shelley scored on a driving layup to extend the margin. The Toreros went scoreless for over four minutes during the run, missing five consecutive shots and turning the ball over twice. By the time Dominique Ford connected on a three-pointer for San Diego at the 8:46 mark, the Lions led 21-10 and had firmly set the game’s tone. Loyola Marymount’s lead never dipped below 11 points the rest of the way, as the early defensive pressure and scoring burst proved too much for the visiting Toreros to overcome.

Loyola Marymount shot 55.4 percent from the field for the game, compared to San Diego’s 43.1 percent. The Lions also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 16 of 21 attempts.

The announced attendance was 965.

San Diego returns home to face Portland on Wednesday. Loyola Marymount continues its conference schedule on the road at Pacific the same night.