Head Coach Stacey Hollowell and the Loyola University New Orleans Wolf Pack hosted Middle Georgia State University in a SSAC conference matchup on Monday evening. The Wolf Pack came back from a halftime deficit, but were unable to capture the win and fell 87-80. The loss is the third-consecutive Southern States Athletic Conference loss for Loyola after opening conference play with a victory against Faulkner.
Jr. F Johnny Griffin (Chicago, Ill./Bloom Trail High) had a big night and it started with a rim-shaking slam to bring the Wolf Pack's early lead to 4-0. However, that was the largest lead of the first half for Loyola and they went down by as many as 11 points. A late rally brought the halftime deficit to seven, 45-38.
The Wolf Pack came out of the locker room and got right back into the game. They quickly went on a run to tie the game 49-49 after consecutive field goals by Jr. G Jalen Gray (New Orleans, La./Brother Martin) with just under fifteen minutes remaining. The 21-10 run was capped by aGray field goal and Loyola took a 59-55 lead with 11:40 remaining.
The Knights responded by going on a run of their own. Trailing 61-58, Middle Georgia State scored the next nine points to reclaim the lead from Loyola, 67-61. The Wolf Pack were not able to get on a run of their own and found themselves trailing 79-72 with 40 seconds remaining.
Fr. F Ryan Smith (Plano, Texas/Plano West), who saw extended minutes for the Wolf Pack, hit a three to close the gap to four. However, the Knights went 12-of-14 from the free throw line in the final minutes of play and closed out the Wolf Pack 87-80.
Coming into the game, Middle Georgia State led the NAIA in defensive field goal percentage, but Loyola still shot very well from the floor. The Wolf Pack shot 32-of-74 (43.2%) from the field and 10-of-25 (40%) from beyond the arc. Defensively, the Wolf Pack forced 13 turnovers and had five blocks, led by Griffin's three.
Griffin had a monster night scoring 21 points with 15 rebounds, while adding three steals to go along with his block total. Gray pitched in 16 points, four assists, and three steals on the night for the Wolf Pack. Fr. GTre'von Jasmine (Edgard, La./East St. John High) was highly effective for Loyola with eight points and six assists. The bench played a big role for the Wolf Pack with big sparks from Smith, Sr. G Mason Ibert(Baton Rouge, La./Catholic High School), and Fr. G Ethan Turner(Covington, La./Mandeville High School). They combined to provide 23 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for Loyola.
The Wolf Pack will hit the road for the next four contests starting with a trip to Mt. Vernon, Georgia for a matchup with SSAC foe Brewton-Parker. Loyola returns to The Den on January 21, against Blue Mountain College at 7:30 PM.
