Box Score Holding the Roadrunners under 20% shooting in the second half, Loyola completed a comeback win behind another double-double from Zach Wrightsil.
DALTON, Ga. – Down by as many as 10 points in the first half, the Loyola University New Orleans men's basketball team fought back to capture a 72-63 victory against Dalton State on Thursday night in Mashburn Arena at Dalton Convention Center.
Nothing was dropping for both teams in the first half, as neither side was able to reach 30 points scored before halftime. The Roadrunners (18-11, 13-8 SSAC) maintained control for most of the opening period, never trailing for all 20 minutes while holding as large as a 10-point lead at 22-12 with seven minutes until halftime. The Wolf Pack (17-11, 12-9 SSAC) then gained momentum, going on a 9-0 run over the next six minutes of play, with Myles Burns flying in for a dunk at the end of the run to cut the deficit to just one point. Dalton would sink a three-pointer as time expired, however, as the home squad took a 27-23 lead into the break.
Loyola started out hot in the second half, scoring five quick points to take a 28-27 lead on a three-point make from Eric Brown. The next 10 minutes saw a tightly contested game, with eight ties and nine lead changes, as the Roadrunners tried to figure out what to do with Zach Wrightsil, who found his way near the basket on nearly every possession for 19 second-half points.
With just over seven minutes to play, Benjamin Fields knocked in a three-pointer to give the visiting Pack a 56-50 lead, after which Loyola's lead never dropped to less than four points. Fields and Wrightsil then combined for eight makes from the free-throw line in the last two minutes, securing the 72-63 win.
The Wolf Pack will play their final regular season game when they take on Martin Methodist at the Curry Christian Life Center in Pulaski, Tenn., on Saturday, February 23, at 4 p.m.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Stacy Hollowell
"That was probably one of our best defensive performances, start to finish, this year. Our defensive field goal percentage was really solid in the second half, we were able to get a number of consecutive stops, and we converted on the offensive end. We rebounded the ball well, and had strong performances from TJ, Ben, Myles, and Zach."
Pack Facts
After getting its first win in program history against Dalton State earlier in the year, Loyola completed the regular season sweep of the Roadrunners with the win tonight
The Wolf Pack held the home team to just 9-46 from the field (19.6%) in the second half, and 20-78 (25.6%) for the game
Zach Wrightsil once again was everywhere in the box score, logging 25 points and 11 rebounds in his 14th double-double of the season, while adding 5 assists and 2 blocks
Myles Burns was one point away from a double-double, putting up 9 points to go along with his game-high 15 boards. He also grabbed three steals.
Benjamin Fields poured in a season-high 16 points after hitting two triples and six clutch free throws in the second half.
Three members of the Wolf Pack scored in double digits, with Terry Smith Jr. dropping 12
