Box Score For the second night in a row, the Wolf Pack uses the "Great Escape" to claim another SSAC victory on the road.
The (RV) Loyola University New Orleans men's basketball team entered tonight's matchup with conference rival Bethel University coming off a clutch victory over the University of Mobile on Thursday.
The Wolf Pack needed overtime, a number of crunch time plays and another big game from Johnny Griffin Jr. (SR/Chicago, IL.) to overcome the Wildcats 84-81 inside the Crisp Gymnasium.
Loyola improves to 12-4 on the season and 5-2 in conference play. The team now sits tied for third place in Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) following Saturday's victory.
The Wolf Pack opened its first possession featuring Griffin Jr. early. Robert White (JR/Los Angeles, Ca.) dumped a pass to the cutting Griffin Jr. for the two-handed flush to put Loyola up 2-0 in the early minutes of the game.
Loyola followed that up with a three pointer by Ethan Turner (SO/Covington, La) off of another dish by White to put the visiting team up 5-0 at the 18:12 mark of the opening half.
Loyola held the lead for the next nine minutes until a layin by Bethel's Justice Scott put the home team on top 20-19 with 8:16 remaining before halftime.
The Wolf Pack responded with a 7-0 run to retake the lead 26-20 in the final three minutes..
The Wildcats would eventually close the half with a 11-3 to take the slim 30-29 advantage at the break.
Loyola's defense was suffocating in the first half, forcing Bethel to shoot just 27% from the field. The Wolf Pack had three players with six points in the first 20 minutes of action.
The back and forth affair between these conference rivals would continue into the second half. With 2:31 remaining in the contest, Scott nailed a three pointer to bring his team within two (60-62).
Over the next minute, Jalen Gray (SR/New Orleans, La.) split a pair of free throws to put Loyola on top 63-60 at the 1:11 mark of the ballgame.
The Wildcats capitalized on a late turnover by the Wolf Pack by converting a layup plus the foul with 0:19 on the game clock. The free throw tied the game at 63-63, leaving Loyola with the final possession in regulation and a chance to snag the victory.
On the ensuing possession, Chase Eckholdt (JR/Mandeville, La.) drew the contact and was forced to knock down two free throws with 0:04 to go and the game on the line.
Despite entering the game shooting nearly 75% from the charity stripe, Eckholdt came up empty on both attempts to force the game into overtime with the score knotted at 63 all.
Both teams opened overtime exchanging baskets. Bethel's David Fraser scored on a layup to break the scoring seal and put his squad on top 65-63.
The Wolf Pack responded with a layup from Griffin Jr. to knot the game back at 65-65. The Wildcats would not be denied, as Fraser once again had the answer for the home team, bringing the score to 67-65 with 4:34 to go in the extra session.
Nick Parker (JR/Port Allen, La.)'s only two field goals of the ball game would come on Loyola's next two possessions. Parker nailed back-to-back three pointers to put the Wolf Pack on top 71-67 with 3:24 remaining in the ballgame.
The next several possessions would see key players from both teams foul out of the game, including Jalen Gray for Loyola.
Parker sank two free throws to put the Wolf Pack on top 84-81 with 0:08 to play in overtime. Scott was unable to knock down the game-tying three pointer in the final seconds, giving the road team the victory.
Loyola shot 30-of-63 (47.6%) from the floor and 5-of-17 (29.4%) from beyond the arc. Both teams shot a combined 74 free throws in the contest, with the Wolf Pack converting 19-of-33 (57.6%) from the stripe.
Griffin Jr. paced the Wolf Pack with a dominate performance, scoring 20 of his season-high 26 points in the second half. He also grabbed 12 boards and picked off four passes in the win. Gray added 14 points and Trey LaForge (FR/New Orleans, La.) and Tre'Von Jasmine (SO/Edgard, La.) chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The last stop on Loyola's four-game road trip will be Pulaski, Tennessee to visit the Martin Methodist Redhawks. Tip-off for this key conference game is set for 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16.
