The Loyola University New Orleans Men's Basketball team faced off with Bethel University in a Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) thriller on Saturday.
So. G Nick Parker (Port Allen, La./Port Allen) scored a career-high 40 points to carry the Wolf Pack to an 84-79 victory.
With the win, Loyola improves to 13-10 overall and 8-7 in SSAC play. This puts them in a tie for third place in the SSAC with Bethel who is also now 8-7 in league action and 16-10 overall. It also extends their winning-streak to a season-high four games.
Parker got off to a hot start by scoring eight points en route to a 12-7 Loyola lead with just under 16 minutes left to play in the half. Bethel tied the game at 12 before the Wolf Pack picked up the tempo.
Parker hit the first of his career-high seven three pointers to give Loyola back the advantage at 15-12. This sparked a 16-3 run for the Wolf Pack and stretched the cushion to 28-15 with five minutes to play in the half. Bethel cut the deficit to 31-20, but it only took Loyola 32 seconds to gain their biggest lead of the game.
Following, another three by Parker, and, after Bethel attempted to quickly answer, Jr. F Johnny Griffin (Chicago, Ill./Bloom Trail High) showed everyone why he is a two-time SSAC Player of the Week.
Griffin grabbed an offensive rebound off of a missed layup by Jr. G Jalen Gray (New Orleans, La./Brother Martin) and put it back up. It didn't fall, but Griffin fought through three Bethel defenders to grab another rebound and score the second-chance bucket.
On the ensuing possession Gray stole a pass and found Parker for a triple giving the Wolf Pack a 39-20 lead with two minutes remaining in the half. Fr. F Ryan Smith (Plano, Texas/Plano West) banked in a shot at the buzzer to send the Wolf Pack to the locker room up 44-29.
The Wolf Pack, who have consistently been effective coming out of the locker room this season, extended their lead once again. After Bethel's Cole Nelson scoredthe opening bucket, the Wolf Pack scored the next six points pushing the advantage back to nineteen.
However, after controlling the much of the game, the Wolf Pack ran into some trouble with fourteen minutes remaining in the half. Leading 59-42 with fourteen minutes remaining, Loyola only managed to score six points over the next seven minutes. That led to Bethel's 20-5 run to cut the their deficit to three.
Leading 74-73 with 2:33 left to play, Gray turned the ball over and immediately fouled the Bethel defender. After he sank both free throws, the Wolf Pack trailed for the first time since the opening minutes.
Parker responded with an impressive drive and finish. Bethel answered, making it 77-76, before Gray powered himself through the lane and sank the teardrop shot. That gave Loyola a 78-77 cushion with just over a minute to play.
Still up one, Fr. C Henry McDonald (Fernwood, Miss./Parklane Academy)threw down a thunderous dunk as the shot clock expired to send the crowd into an uproar and give the Wolf Pack a three point lead with 16 seconds remaining.
After Griffin blocked Bethel's three point attempt to tie, the Wolf Pack were sent to the line with the opportunity to clinch the victory. Gray sank both of his free throws, and Parker, appropriately, ended the game with two free throws for his 39th and 40th points. The SSAC clash ended with the Wolf Pack taking the 84-79 victory at home.
The Wolf Pack shot 17-of-65 (41.5%) from the field and 22-of-34 (64.7%) from the charity stripe. They were 8-of-21 (38.1%) from beyond the arc, but Parker was 7-of-9 (77.7%) by himself.
Parker's 40 points are the most in the SSAC this season, and the most by a member of the Pack since Wolf Pack Assistant Coach Ryan Brock dropped 42 in a game in 2010. Griffin captured his league-leading 14th double-double with 15 points and 10 boards. Gray came off of the bench and provided 13 points.
Bethel shot 22-of-53 (41.5%) from the field and 10-of-20 (50%) from beyond the arc. They were led by Nelson,who had 17, and Andrew Rogan's 16 points.
The Wolf Pack return to action on Tuesday, February 16, at 7:00 pm against crosstown rival Dillard University.
