Box Score Wolf Pack play their final regular season game against No. 19 William Carey on Saturday
BLUE MOUNTAIN, MS.- The Loyola University New Orleans Men's Basketball team played Blue Mountain College in the first of two Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) road games on their trip to Mississippi.
The Wolf Pack were lethal from three-point range and won in a landslide, 86-55.
The game opened with a three-pointer by Jr. F Johnny Griffin (Chicago, Ill./Bloom Trail High), but Loyola didn't create separation until under seven minutes remaining in the half.
Leading 19-18, Griffin scored to spark a 19-5 run. The run was capped by Griffin after he stole the ball from Blue Mountain and went end-to-end for the score. The run sent the Wolf Pack into the locker room leading 38-23.
Out of the intermission, Fr. C Henry McDonald (Fernwood, Miss./Parklane Academy) hit consecutive three-pointers for the Pack to extend the advantage to 44-26. Loyola continued to add to their lead and were ahead 50-34 with 14:33 remaining.
From that point on Fr. G Eric Brown (Homer, La./Arcadia High School) put on a three-point shooting clinic. Brown hit six shots from beyond the arc in the second half. His sharp-shooting kept Blue Mountain at bay and led the Wolf Pack to an 86-55 road victory.
Loyola put on one of their best shooting performances of the year, going 34-of-58 (58.6%) from the floor and an astounding 14-of-27 (51.8%) from three-point range. They had a balanced rebounding output, holding the 39-29 advantage over the Toppers.
Brown led all scorers with a career-high 23 points on 7-of-9 three-point shooting. His seven three-pointers tie So. G Nick Parker (Port Allen, La./Port Allen) for the most in a game this season. Griffin provided 13 points and six boards. McDonald made his first three-pointers off of the bench en route to his career-high 12 points. Fr. F Ryan Smith (Plano, Tx./Plano West) was 4-of-6 from the field for 10 points on the bench.
Blue Mountain was held to 19-of-56 (33.9%) from the field and 9-of-29 (31%) from three-point range. Justin McLellon scored 13 points and Denio Chirindza added 12 more to lead the Toppers.
The Wolf Pack continue their two-game road trip on Saturday at No. 19 William Carey, who clinched first place in the SSAC with their victory over Mobile tonight.
