Box Score Wolf Pack go on 28-12 run in second half to cut Xavier lead to one but ultimately fall by five
NEW ORLEANS - Loyola battled back in a close matchup with Xavier tonight, but were unable to come away with the win, falling 70-75 tonight in The Den.
While Wolf Pack (6-5) grabbed an early lead in the first half 8-7 with two threes by Ethan Turner, the visiting Gold Rush (8-4) would eventually take it back. The two teams traded points as the first half rolled on, before Xavier extended their lead to nine on a score by Jeff Dixon. In the final moments of the first half the Gold Rush would take a double-digit lead, entering halftime with a 36-23 lead.
Chase Eckholdt helped orchestrate the Wolf Pack offense to open up the second half, racking up three quick assists and topping it off with a layup. Xavier continued to press however, holding a double digit lead for a majority of the period, eventually taking a game-high 17 point lead with 11:44 remaining.
Loyola wasn't done fighting, as Ethan Turner connected on his fifth three of the game with under eight minutes to play, shrinking the Xavier lead to nine. The Wolf Pack would eventually go on a 28-12 run, capped off by a huge Nick Parker three, drawing the score at 66-67 with 4:22 left to play.
Minutes later, as each team traded buckets, Parker came up big again, this time on the defensive side with a chase down block with 1:33 left on the clock.
Nearing the minute-mark, Xavier went to the line up three with the chance to put the Pack away, but were unable to hit either shot. After a foul on Loyola during the following possession and a made free throw by the Gold Rush, the score sat at 66-70.
With the Pack needing a score as the clock ran down, freshman Tensley Aldridge converted a layup on a quick drive to the hoop, brining the Xavier lead down to two with 42 seconds remaining. Following another trip to the charity stripe for Xavier, Robert White drew a foul of his own and converted both shots, setting the scoreboard at 70-71 in favor of the visiting team.
Another foul by the Pack to halt the clock sent Xavier back to the line, before a steal by the visitors gave them possession with 4.2 left and a two point lead. Following two free throws in the remaining seconds, Loyola would ultimately fall just short despite a huge comeback 70-75 to Xavier.
Parker registered two steals in tonight's contest, moving his career total to 133 and breaking a tie with Brian Bowers to give him the 7th most steals in school history.
For the Wolf Pack, Turner led the team in scoring tonight with 17 points, hitting five from the three-point line, while Aldridge added 15 in only 20 minutes of work.
Four members of Xavier scored in double digits, with Joseph Williams leading the team at 16 points. Rayshawn Mart added 14 points while also grabbing a game-high nine rebounds.
The Wolf Pack will visit Mobile University on Monday at 7 p.m., for their final game before the holiday break
