Box Score The Wolf Pack battle back in the second half but fall short to the undefeated Pilots
NEW ORLEANS - In a tough battle with No. 11 LSU-Shreveport, the Loyola Men's Basketball team dropped a home matchup 83-76 tonight in The Den.
The Pilots (9-0) jumped out to an early lead, up 19-11 with just over ten minutes remaining in the first half. Nick Parker (SR/Port Allen, La.), who led the Wolf Pack (5-4, 2-0) in scoring for the 5th time this season, hit a floater to pull Loyola within six, but the visitors would stretch their lead even further to 15 with 1:26 remaining in the first half.
Loyola battled back to close out the half however, with Parker converting two free throws with 13 seconds left to bring the score to 30-40 at the break.
The second half began with the Pilots pushing their lead further, starting the period with a 10-0 run, and would eventually extend it to 23. Loyola wouldn't be put away easily, as the home team would battle back to bring it within 10 at the 2:48 mark. Loyola would ultimately chip away further into the lead, bringing the final tally to 83-76. The Wolf Pack outscored the undefeated Pilots in the second half 46-43, fueled by Tensley Aldridge (FR/Denham Springs, La.)'s 11 second-half points.
Parker finished tonight's contest with 20 points, adding five rebounds and three assists while Terry Smith Jr. (FR/Chicago, Ill.) picked up his fourth total and third-straight double-double on the season, collecting a career-high 18 rebounds in the process.
LSU-Shreveport was led in scoring by Stevie Clark with 22 and D.J. Clayton who added 20.
Loyola will be back in action on Wednesday, traveling west for an exhibition match against NCAA DI Louisiana at 7 p.m. before returning home to take on NCAA DII Spring Hill College in The Den on Friday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m
