Box Score With 14 points and 15 rebounds, Benjamin Fields has now registered four double-doubles in the previous five games
NEW ORLEANS - Tied at halftime, the Loyola University New Orleans men's basketball team rallied behind a productive second half to defeat No. 24 Faulkner University 70-58 today at The Den.
To open the game, the Wolf Pack (10-7, 6-2) scored seven unanswered points, as Ethan Turner led the game off with a three before Terry Smith Jr. and Benjamin Fields added two buckets of their own. The visiting Eagles (13-6, 5-4) would rally back however, tying the game at 9-9 with 13 minutes remaining in the half.
While neither team gave an inch for the next few minutes of play, Loyola would climb out to a nine point lead with scores by Chase Eckholdt, Robert White, Josh Leaney and Tre'Von Jasmine. The Pack held their lead until the closing moments of the half, as Faulkner closed out the period with three makes from beyond the arc in the final minute and a half of play to bring the halftime score to 26 all.
Coming out of the break, Faulkner would jump out to a four point lead with just over 15 minutes left to play, however, it would be short lived. Following two straight field goals by Fields, the Pack would reclaim the lead, which they would hold onto for the remainder of the evening.
With six and a half minutes to play, Fields converted two free throws to put Loyola on top 49-39, before a three by Nick Parker would extend their lead to 12. While the Eagles would inch back a bit closer to the Pack, the home team would maintain a double-digit advantage to close out the game, defeating Faulkner by a final score of 70-58.
Fields led the Pack in scoring tonight, earning his second consecutive double-double, and fourth in the past five games with 14 points and a career-best 15 rebounds. Jasmine and Smith also hit double digits in scoring, adding 11 and 10, respectively.
With his 141st career steal tonight, Parker moved into a tie for 5th place in career steals at Loyola with recent Wolf Pack Hall of Fame inductee Ryan Brock.
Rene Scott led the visiting Eagles in scoring for the night, collecting 26 points while Logan Jozwiak and Marquis Grays each scored 10.
The Pack will take a break from SSAC play next week, as they head across town to face No. 22 Xavier on Wednesday January 24th at 7:00 p.m.
Be sure to follow Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack and on Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack.