Box Score Chase Eckholdt and Trey LaForge fuel Pack in second half for big road victory
MOBILE, Ala. - The Loyola University New Orleans men's basketball team turned in a 45 point second half to move to 3-0 in the SSAC Monday night, defeating Mobile 72-50 at the H. Austill Pharr Gymnasium.
To open up Loyola's (7-5, 3-0) first conference game since Dec. 2nd, sophomore Chase Eckholdt found Tre'Von Jasmine for three before Mobile (5-7, 0-3) would claim an early lead. After falling behind as much as nine points, the Wolf Pack would fight back, led by freshman duo Tensley Aldridge and Terry Smith Jr. With just over seven minutes remaining in the first half, Smith tied the game up at 19 before converting a layup minutes later to give the Pack a 23-22 lead.
Each team would trade points to run out the half, with Smith leaping to put back a last second tip-in and give Loyola the lead at the intermission, 27-26.
Sophomore guard Trey LaForge would open up the second half with a great drive to the hoop, followed by an Ethan Turner three. On the next Mobile possession, Chase Eckholdt stepped in front of a pass, driving the length of the court and converting a breakaway layup to force the home team to call a timeout.
Up 34-28, LaForge forced yet another Mobile turnover which would spark the fire under the Wolf Pack in the second half. After reaching a double-digit lead only three minutes into the second period, Loyola never looked back, pairing a well-rounded offensive attack with stout defensive play and outscoring the Rams 45-24 in the second half.
While LaForge led the team with 14 points, Eckholdt added 12 of his own to go with five assists and two steals. Smith turned in his fifth double-double of the season, scoring 11 to go with 12 total rebounds and has achieved this feat in each of the Pack's three conference games this season.
For Mobile, Tony-Toni Wright led the way with 11 points, followed by junior guard D.J. Hill's 10.
Loyola will take a short holiday break but be back in action on January 4th, when they host Brewton-Parker in The Den for a 7:30 p.m. matchup
