Box Score The freshman scores 27 points, grabs a career-high 14 rebounds and dishes out 9 assists as the Pack take down the Badgers 97-79
MOBILE, Ala. – Playing in their final game before the holiday break, the Loyola University New Orleans men's basketball team traveled to Mobile, Ala. and took down NCAA Division-II member Spring Hill College 97-79 Wednesday night.
The Wolf Pack (7-4) wasted no time jumping on the Badgers (5-6), with Zach Wrightsil kicking the night off with a three pointer. After scoring 11 unanswered to start the game, Myles Burns eventually capitalized a 20-2 opening run with a soaring dunk with 11 minutes on the clock. Going up by as much as 24, the first half was controlled by Loyola, as the Pack would take a 47-35 advantage into the lockers for halftime.
The home team began the start of the second half on a tear, with Spring Hill sinking five three-pointers in the first three and a half minutes to take a 54-52 lead. While Ethan Turner would respond to reclaim the lead for Loyola, the home team would step out in front again, 61-59 with just under 15 minutes on the clock.
After drawing the score even the Wolf Pack took their lead back on a three from Cameron Dumas. Another emphatic dunk from Burns and three-point play the hard way from Wrightsil would put Loyola on top 69-61, with a layup from Terry Smith Jr. ending a 15-0 run for the Pack. The Loyola offense would hold off the Badgers for the remainder of the night, reaching a final total of 97 to Spring Hill's 79 for their seventh win of the season.
The Wolf Pack will return to action on January 3, when they host new conference-member Stillman College, currently ranked 11th in the country, at 7:30 p.m. in The Den.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Stacy Hollowell
"This was a great team win on the road. Aside from late in the first half and the run Spring Hill made to start the second half, we probably had our best overall defensive performance of the season. I'm really proud of the minutes we got from guys off the bench. Josh Leaney was terrific defensively, and Trey LaForge played in spots that were out of his normal position and gave us great minutes. Eric Brown shot well and gave us good defensive possessions. Myles and TJ were both super efficient all the way around, and you can't say enough about the way Zach has been playing."
Pack Facts
Despite trailing in the all-time series 20-16, the Wolf Pack have now claimed five straight victories over the Badgers dating back to 2014.
Zach Wrightsil entered today's contest averaging 18 points per game, and reached that mark before halftime.
The freshman finished with 27 points, the fourth time he's dropped at least 20 this year.
Wrightsil nearly registered his first career triple-double, grabbing a career-high 14 rebounds with nine assists for his fourth double-double this year and third straight.
Both Myles Burns and Terry Smith Jr. added 16 in the score column, with Smith narrowly picking up a double-double after grabbing 9 boards.
The freshman duo of Burns and Wrightsil have each scored in double figures in seven of the Pack's 11 games played so far this season.
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.
