Loyola is unable to steal a road victory from AUM and fall 104-80

MONTGOMERY, ALA.- The Loyola Wolf Pack Men's Basketball team played their second consecutive game in Alabama as they took on Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) Warhawks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It was a close Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) game going into the locker room, but the shots weren't falling for the Wolf Pack in the second half and they lost by a final score of 104-80.

The first half was a series of runs that started with a 12-4 run by AUM to take a 12-6 lead in the first three minutes of play. A basket by Jr. F Johnny Griffin (Chicago, Ill./Bloom Trail High) then set off a run in response by Loyola. Four different members of the Wolf Pack scored during a 13-6 run giving them a 19-18 lead over the Warhawks with 12:54 remaining in the half.

The lead, however, did not hold up for long. The Warhawks responded by going on 16-4 run and took the largest lead of the half with a score of 34-23. Yet, the Wolf Pack once again had an answer for AUM.

Sparked by a three-pointer by Jr. G Jalen Gray (New Orleans, La./Brother Martin), Loyola regained the lead by going on an 18-6 run with three minutes remaining in the half. That was their last lead of the half and headed into the locker room down 46-43.

After shooting 47 percent from the field in the first half, the Wolf Pack couldn't get their shots to fall in the second half. The Warhawks scored the first seven points of the half en route to a 16-6 run to put them ahead 62-49, the largest lead of the game.

With just under fourteen minutes remaining in the game, and Loyola trailing by eleven, Fr. G Ethan Turner (Covington, La./Mandeville High School) knocked down a trey to close the deficit to 67-61. However, that was as far as the Wolf Pack could climb back into the game and fell to AUM, 104-80.

The Wolf Pack shot 29-of-67 (43.3%) in the game, but were 8-of-27 (29.6%) from three-point range. Defensively, the Wolf Pack were aggressive, pressing for most of the game, and forced 14 turnovers and had five blocks.

Loyola spread the shooting around and had five players score double-digit points. They were led by Gray, who had seven assists, and Fr. G Tre'von Jasmine (Edgard, La./East St. John High) each with 15 points. Turner pitched in 14 points off of the bench, while Griffin and So. G Nick Parker (Port Allen, La./Port Allen) each added 10 points.

As a team, AUM was 35-of-68 (51.5%) from the field and 14-of-25 (56%) from beyond the arc. Reagan Eubanks led all scorers with 27 points and hit five of their 14 three-pointers.