Box Score The Wolf Pack swept the season series over the Bleu Devils for the first time since 2014
NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola Wolf Pack started slow, but pulled out their eighth straight win to start the regular season, defeating the Dillard Bleu Devils 95-84 Monday at The Battlefield.
The Bleu Devils used perfect free throw shooting to take an early 15-2 lead over Loyola, but the Wolf Pack slowly got back into the game. The Wolf Pack made it a 20-14 game before cutting Dillard's advantage to 24-23 with six and a half minutes left in the first half.
Dillard pushed the lead back to five points, but Loyola's Tensley Aldridge got red-hot to help the Pack take their first lead of the game. The sophomore scored 13 of his 17 first-half points in the final seven minutes, including back-to-back 3-pointers and a 2-point jumper to give Loyola a 37-32 lead with 3:25 to play.
The Wolf Pack took a 45-38 lead into the break.
In the second half, it was Matt Maturah and Andrew Stagni's turn to provide a spark for the Wolf Pack offense. Maturah hit three 3-pointers to start the half, which helped Loyola take a 57-49 lead. Stagni scored all of his 15 points in the final 20 minutes, and it allowed Loyola stay ahead of Dillard for most of the second half.
Dillard, however, was able to regain the 61-60 lead with 11:40 left to play, but it was brief. That lead was the first time the Bleu Devils were ahead since they led 30-29 with more than four minutes to go in the first half. Loyola quickly jumped back ahead, and never relinquished the advatage.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Stacy Hollowell
"In my opinion, it was the most complete effort that we've put together as a team this season. When we got behind early, we had some foul trouble. Tensley came in and he got on a big run for us. Once he got going, guys kept finding him, and he was able to help us take the lead after being behind big early.
"Matt Maturah and Andrew Stagni hit big shots for us and stretched them a little bit, and we were able to work back inside. We were able to limit their open looks at the 3-point line, and we were able to hold their better shooters to a low 3-point field goal percentage.
"Overall, great team effort and a nice road win for us."
Pack Facts
Tensley Aldridge recorded a career-high 23 points against Dillard. His previous career-high came earlier this season against Carver College when he scored 16.
Matt Maturah recorded a career-high five assists Monday, while also scoring 12 points for the second consecutive game.
Not to be outdone, Andrew Stagni poured in 15 points, which was a career-high.
Zach Wrightsil now has four straight games with at least a double-double after scoring 16 points with 12 rebounds. During this stretch, he has two triple-doubles but had only five assists against the Bleu Devils.
The first season sweep of Dillard since 2014, and it's also the first time Loyola has won at Dillard since that season.
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