Box Score Griffin Jr. collects his second-straight double-double in the loss.
The Loyola Wolf Pack men's basketball team returned to First NBC Court on Saturday night for a matchup against the No. 5 LSU-Alexandria. Despite trailing by only two points at halftime, the Pack fell to the Generals 80-66 to drop to 1-1 on the season.
The Generals broke the scoring seal in the early minutes of the first half, with a three-pointer knocked down by G Brandon Ellis. The Wolf Pack responded with back-to-back field goals by Johnny Griffin Jr. (SR/Chicago, IL.) to take the lead at 4-3. The game would be tight throughout, as LSUA would have their largest lead at two over the next five minutes of the first half. But the visiting squad increased its lead over the Wolf Pack, going on a 7-0 run to take a 19-11 lead. The Generals' lead would grow to as many as 13 until an 18-5 run by the Wolf Pack tied the game at 36 all with one minute remaining. The visitors managed to sink two free throws to end the half to take the 38-36 advantage into the locker room.
Loyola started the second half with an early field goal by Eric Brown (SO/Homer, La.), trimming the lead to one at 38-39. But the visiting squad carried the momentum for much of the second half, sparked by an 8-0 run. LSUA added to the lead, as a three-point field goal by Bradley Savoy gave the Generals an 11 point lead at the 12-minute mark. The Pack responded with a 7-0 run sparked by a three pointer from Nick Parker (JR/Port Allen, La.) and free throws by Brown and Chase Eckholdt (JR/Mandeville, La.). The Generals led 54-50, until a 9-3 run put the Pack behind 63-53 down the stretch. Turnovers and late fouls would haunt the Wolf Pack in the final minutes of the game, as LSUA would go on to defeat the Pack 80-66.
Griffin Jr. led the Pack with 17 points and 14 rebounds for his second straight double-double. Parker added 16 points and four assists and Nate Pierre (SR/Folsom, La.) chipped in 10 points and six rebounds. Jalen Gray (SR/New Orleans, La.) scored only eight points in the contest before fouling out of the ball game.
Brandon Moss led the Generals with 19 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
The Wolf Pack will take on Tulane University on Thursday, Nov. 3 in the annual Battle of Freret St. at the Devlin Fieldhouse.
