Box Score Parker paces the Loyola attack with 19 points and 10 boards.
The Loyola University New Orleans men's basketball team entered Tuesday night's game against Southern University at Orleans riding a three-game winning streak and looking to avenge a 77-83 defeat at the hands of the Knights earlier this month.
Fueled by three players in double-figures, the Wolf Pack defeated SUNO 81-69 at First NBC Court to improve to 6-2 on the season.
The visitors jumped out to a 12-5 advantage to start the game before Loyola dropped in nine-answered points to grab the 14-12 lead with 13:32 to play. The Knights retook the lead for a moment but the Wolf Pack once again struck back – with baskets by Jalen Gray (SR/New Orleans, La.) and Eric Brown (SO/Homer, La.) – to snatch the five-point cushion, 32-27, with just under four minutes remaining in the opening half. Up one with just 1:42 to play, Loyola used a rare triple from Johnny Griffin Jr. (SR/Chicago, IL.) paired with a layup by Nate Pierre (SR/Folsom, La.) to end the half up 39-33.
The Wolf Pack outrebounded the Knight 17-11 in the first half, while both teams tallied eight turnovers.
SUNO managed to trim the deficit to a single point, 39-40, to start the second half but Loyola quickly answered with three-pointers by Ethan Turner (SO/Covington, La) and Gray to push the advantage to seven points with 16:32 to play. The Knights once again brought the Wolf Pack lead down to just three with 13:00 to play before another triple – this time from Nick Parker (JR/Port Allen, La.) – put Loyola on top six points with just under 12 minutes remaining in regulation. With 2:33 to play, a hook shot by Pierre gave the home team their largest lead of the game at 76-63. SUNO would bring the contest back within single digits with a jumper at the 1:55 mark but Loyola would manage to weather the storm over the last moments of the game to take the 81-69 victory at home.
The Wolf Pack shot 54.7 % (29-of-53) from the floor and 45% (9-of-20) from beyond the arc. Loyola held the convincing 36-25 rebounding advantage on Tuesday and swatted four shots compared to zero by SUNO.
Parker led all players with 19 points and 10 boards in the win. Griffin chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds, while Gray tallied 15 points and a game-high seven assists in 27 minutes played.
Dominique Suggs paced SUNO with 18 points and Ezekiel Brown managed to snag a game-high six steals in the loss.
The Wolf Pack kick off conference play on Thursday, Dec. 1, with a match up against Brewton-Parker on the road at 7:30 p.m.
