Box Score Gray scores his 1,000th career point but the Wolf Pack comes up short against SSAC rival Faulkner University on Saturday evening.
The (RV) Loyola University men's basketball team came into today's matchup against Faulkner University looking to take over the top spot in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) standings.
Both teams came in with just one loss in conference play thus far, with the Wolf Pack sitting at 3-1 and the Eagles at the top of the conference at 4-1. Loyola was also riding the momentum of a 90-76 victory against Middle Georgia State on New Year's Eve.
In spite of a strong effort from newly acquired Trey LaForge (FR/New Orleans, La.) and 14 points and eight boards from Johnny Griffin Jr. (SR/Chicago, IL.), the Wolf Pack fell 73-59 to the Eagles on the road.
The Wolf Pack dropped to 10-4 on the season and 3-2 in SSAC play following the loss.
Neither squad was able to connect from the field in the first two minutes of play until a three pointer by Nick Parker (JR/Port Allen, La.) off the feed from Robert White (JR/Los Angeles, Ca.) gave Loyola the early advantage at 3-0 at the 18:13 mark.
The Eagles retaliated with a layup on the other end of the floor to bring the score to 3-2. The score was knotted at 5-5 until back-to-back buckets by the home team put Faulkner on top 9-5 with 14:40 on the game clock.
Griffin Jr. scored the next six points for the Wolf Pack, knocking down a three pointer from the wing and following that play with a layup plus the foul at the 13:29 mark of the first half.
The score was tied once again at 11 points a piece until a layup by Faulkner's Jose Jimenez put the Eagles back on top 13-11 with 13:18 remaining in the opening frame..
Tre'Von Jasmine (SO/Edgard, La.) responded with a three pointer to retake the lead at 14-13 with 13:00 until intermission. Loyola would not score from the field for nearly four minutes until a three pointer by newcomer Trey LaForge broke the mini drought at the 9:26 mark.
With the half winding down, a layup by Jalen Gray (SR/New Orleans, La.) off of the pocket pass from Chase Echoldt would give him 1,000 points for his career and bring the Wolf Pack within one (27-26) at the 4:23 mark of the first half.
A 12-2 run by the Eagles capped off the opening half to put the home team on top 39-29 heading into the locker room.
Loyola shot just 33% from the floor (11-of-33) and only 28% from beyond the arc (5-of-17) in the first half. On the other side, Faulkner shot 51% from the field (16-of-31) and 83% (5-of-6) from the charity stripe.
The Wolf Pack started the second half by capitalizing on two errant passes from the Eagles, leading to two transition buckets by Griffin Jr. to bring Loyola within nine (46-37) at the 15:49 mark of the ballgame.
Faulkner responded with a layup by Jimenez and a three pointer by Marquis Grays to put the home team up 51-37 with 13:22 remaining.
The Wolf Pack continued to battle back, as a three pointer by Eric Brown (SO/Homer, La.) cut the lead to just five (56-51) with 8:28 to go.
Loyola would not be able to draw any closer, as the Eagles remained in the driver's seat down the stretch at home.
Faulkner would win the contest 73-59 to improve to 5-1 in SSAC play and 10-5 overall.
The Wolf Pack shot just 36% for the game (23-of-64) and 24% (7-of-29) from beyond the arc. Griffin Jr. led his team with 14 points and eight rebounds. In his debut for the Wolf Pack, LaForge scored 13 points and grabbed three boards in 19 minutes of action. Jasmine added a season-high 12 points in the loss.
Jimenez led all scorers with 19 points for the Eagles, including 8-of-11 shooting from the floor.
The Wolf Pack will continue their four-game conference road trip as they take on the University of Mobile on Thursday, Jan. 12. The matchup against the Rams is set to tip-off at 7:30 p.m.
