Looking to avenge a loss earlier in the year, the Loyola University New Orleans Men's Basketball team played host to crosstown rival No. 19 Xavier University on Thursday inside The Den. The Wolf Pack were able to hold off a late push by Xavier to win 57-52.
With the game even at four early in the first half, Fr. G Tre'Von Jasmine(Edgard, La./ East St. John High) drained a three pointer to give the Wolf Pack a three point advantage. Moments later Jasmine sank another triple and set off a 16-8 run capped off by Fr. F Ryan Smith (Plano, Texas/Plano West High) sinking a three from the corner to expand the lead to 20-12.
The Gold Rush responded by scoring the next six points to close the gap to two. After trading baskets until the score was 23-21 in favor of the Wolf Pack, Jasmine and Jr. F Johnny Griffin Jr. (Chicago Ill./Bloom Trail High)combined for five of the team's last six points of the half. That sent both teams to the locker room with Loyola leading Xavier 29-24.
Loyola opened the scoring in the second half with 9-5 run to extend the lead to 38-29. The Gold Rush responded by going on a 10-4 run to get within three, 42-39. Loyola got a big three from Smith and then Griffin gave the Wolf Pack and their fans the electricity they had been lacking during the Xavier run. Following a jump ball won by Smith, R-So. G Sam Kohnke (New Orleans, La./Isidore Newman School) drove the lane and lobbed it up to Griffin who threw down a thunderous jam as he was fouled with over eight minutes to play.
The big play pushed the momentum into Loyola's favor and they held as much as a nine point lead over the next three minutes. With five minutes remaining, the Gold Rush started knocking on the door. The visitors were able to close the deficit to three, but the Wolf Pack held them off until just over a minute to play.
Xavier sank two free throws to make the score 53-52 and, a foul on the ensuing inbounds, put Jr. G Jalen Gray (New Orleans, La./Brother Martin) at the line to shoot two. Gray stayed poised and sank both free throws with just over forty seconds to play. Xavier rushed down the court and were forced to take a poor shot, but were able to gather the offensive board. After once again missing from the floor, the Wolf Pack rebounded and raced down the floor trying to avoid a foul with 20 seconds remaining. Gray came down the right side of the court, crossed over an Xavier player, and then spun off of two more into the lane, a crowd pleasing move, before kicking it back out to Jasmine. Jasmine was fouled and sank both free throws to ice the game, 57-52.
Loyola only managed to go 18-of-48 (37.5%) from the floor and 5-of-15 (33%) from outside the arc. However, the Wolf Pack played impeccable defense holding Xavier to 17-52 (32.7%) shooting from the floor and 3-of-12 (25%) from deep. Fr. G Ethan Turner (Covington, La./Mandeville High School) and Kohnke were able to lock down Xavier's star guard Morris Wright, who averages almost 20 points a game, and Griffin was a force in the paint with four blocks.
Gray, who played all forty minutes in the contest, led the team with 15 points and four assists. So. C Nate Pierre (Folsom, La./Covington) pitched in 13 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Griffin added 12 points, while Jasmine chipped in 11 for the Wolf Pack.
Loyola will return to The Den on December 18 at 7:30 PM to face-off against No. 5 Louisiana State University at Alexandria.
