Box Score The Wolf Pack pulls away late in 22-point win over the Knights
NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola Wolf Pack hosted Southern University New Orleans Wednesday, and the Wolf Pack improved to 2-0 on the young season with a 74-62 win over the Knights.
After SUNO scored the game's first basket, the Wolf Pack quickly took their own lead and pushed head 13-7. Terry Smith Jr. scored four of his 22 points during that opening stretch, then a combination of Smith, Zach Wrightsil and Myles Burns scored 22 of the team's first 25 points.
Trailing 25-17, SUNO cut the Loyola lead to two points before the Pack had a 10-2 run to take the 35-25 lead with six minutes left in the first half.
They would go into halftime with a commanding 50-35 advantage. SUNO, however, started the second half on a 20-7 run to cut Loyola's lead to 57-55. The Knights even got the score down to 61-60 with 11:14 left, but the Wolf Pack turned it on after that score.
Loyola quickly jumped up 71-62, then extended the lead to 81-68 with a little more than five minutes to play. The Wolf Pack finished game by outscoring SUNO 25-12 down the stretch to close out the game.
Loyola is back in action Friday against Carver College out of Atlanta, Georgia. First tip is set for 7 p.m. in The Den.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Stacy Hollowell
"I thought SUNO came out with great energy. Coach (Brian) Gibson has his group playing with toughness and with physicality. We were able to build a lead early, and they came back in the second half and gave us a real challenge. I feel like our pressure was good. We just have to be better on the offensive end, take better shots and finish easy opportunities."
Pack Facts
Terry Smith Jr. scored a game-high 22 points, which is one point shy of his career-high. He scored 23 points as a sophomore against Xavier on Nov. 10.
Smith notched his first double-double of the season, grabbing 12 boards.
Zach Wrightsil recorded the team's other double-double, putting up 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The Wolf Pack combined for 17 steals against the Knights. Through two games, the Pack average 20 steals.
Five members of the Pack scored in double figures, with Myles Burns (14), Tim Cameron (14), and Andrew Fava (11) joining Smith and Wrightsil.
You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
