Box Score The Wolf Pack could not overcome the hot three point shooting of Martin Methodist in Monday night's loss.
The (RV) Loyola University New Orleans men's basketball team looked to wrap up its four-game Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) road trip on Monday with a matchup against the (RV) Martin Methodist inside the Curry Christian Life Center.
After two victories in dramatic fashion against Mobile and Bethel, the men's squad looked to end the long road swing at 3-1.
Hot shooting from the home team and missed free throws plagued the Wolf Pack throughout the ballgame, leading to an 89-79 defeat on the road against the Redhawks.
The loss puts Loyola at 12-5 overall and 5-3 in SSAC games.
A layup by Johnny Griffin Jr. (SR/Chicago, IL.) put the Wolf Pack on top 9-5 in the first four minutes of the opening half. The home team responded with back-to-back three pointers by the duo of Broderick and Toderick Davis to regain the lead 11-9 over the next 60 seconds of play.
Nick Parker (JR/Port Allen, La.) tied the game at 11 all with a jumper from the perimeter at the 14:32 mark of the first half.
Loyola found itself trailing 27-19 with 9:16 to go until halftime, until a 10-0 run capped off with a layup by Griffin Jr. gave the visitors the 29-27 advantage with 6:26 on the game clock.
The two-point lead did not last long, as Broderick Davis once again responded with a three pointer to give his team the one-point lead (30-29) with 5:53 to go until intermission.
Both teams would battle back and forth for the lead over the final five minutes of the half. A three pointer from the home team gave them the four point advantage at 46-42 over the Wolf Pack heading into the locker rooms.
It was an offensive exhibition for both teams in the first half. Loyola connected on 48.7% shooting from the floor (18-of-37) and 40% (4-of-10) shooting from beyond the arc. Trey LaForge (FR/New Orleans, La.) led the individual effort for his team, scoring 10 points in the first half.
The Redhawks shot 41.7% (15-of-36) from the floor and connected on 70% (7-of-10) of their shots from beyond the arc.
The game was knotted at 52-52 at the 15:00 mark of the second period. A jump hook in the middle of the paint gave the Wolf Pack the slim edge at 55-53 over the next two minutes of play.
That was the largest lead for Loyola at any point in the second half, as the Redhawks went on an 18-5 scoring run, spearheaded by the sharp shooting of the Davis duo.
The Wolf Pack would only come within seven points the rest of the way, as Martin Methodist cruised to an 89-79 win.
Loyola struggled from the field in the second half, shooting just 14-of-36 (39%) from the field and 1-of-12 (0.83%) from beyond the arc. The team also struggled from the charity stripe, only managing 10-of-21 (47.6%) from the foul line.
Jalen Gray (SR/New Orleans, La.) led the way for the Wolf Pack with 18 points and six rebounds. Griffin Jr. and LaForge both chipped in 14 points apiece in the road loss.
The duo of Broderick and Toderick Davis had 25 and 19 points, respectively for Martin Methodist in the victory.
Loyola will return to First NBC Court for a matchup against No. 18 William Carey College on Thursday, Jan. 19. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evening.
