Box Score After taking the lead just over four minutes into the game, the Wolf Pack held their advantage until the final buzzer
NEW ORLEANS – Fueled by big nights from Cameron Dumas and Terry Smith Jr., the Loyola University New Orleans men's basketball team defended their home court against No. 23 Xavier, taking down the Gold Rush 87-78 Saturday night in The Den.
The two teams began the game trading scores, as Dumas broke the game's second tie with one of his five three-pointers to put the Pack (3-2) up 10-7, a lead they would hold the remainder of the evening. The Wolf Pack would push their lead to 14 on five-straight points from Joseph Ruzevich, eventually taking a 51-37 advantage into the halftime break.
After Loyola extended their game-high lead to 20 on a score from Smith, the Gold Rush (4-1) would slowly climb back. The visitors would cut the lead in half at the 7:50-mark, with the Pack up 66-56. With 1:13 left in the game, Xavier made it a four-point contest, before free throws from both Dumas and Smith gave the Wolf Pack an eight-point cushion. Loyola would hold on for their first ranked-victory of the season, defeating the Gold Rush by nine, 87-78.
The Pack will return to The Den next week and host another crosstown rival, taking on No. 11 Dillard Thursday, November 15th at 7 p.m.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Stacy Hollowell
"They're a good team, I feel like we'll look back on this win later in the season and really understand just how special it is. Xavier is really talented, and they're just going to get better. I thought our defense was really good tonight. Our matchups gave them a bit of trouble, particularly early in the game. We got great minutes from a number of guys tonight, Terry Smith Jr., Cameron Dumas, Zach Wrightsil and Joseph Ruzevich. Sammis Reyes responded really well coming off the bench, he looked like a point guard in there for us."
Pack Facts
This was the first victory over Xavier since 2016, and Loyola's first ranked win since January 20th last season when they defeated No. 23 Faulkner 70-58.
The Pack shot 50% from the field tonight, and were 9-16 (56%) from three.
After matching his career-high in the previous game, Terry Smith Jr. set a new mark for points in a game with 23 tonight.
Setting a career-best of his own as well, Cameron Dumas scored 20, shooting a perfect 5-5 from the three-point line.
Ethan Turner has now connected on a three-pointer in each of Loyola's five games, and is shooting 46% from beyond the arc this year.
The senior is now tied for the ninth-most made threes in Loyola history with 131.
You can keep up with the Pack this season by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
