Box Score Myles Burns contributed 29 points, 11 rebounds and four steals, but it wasn't enough against one of the SSAC's top teams
NEW ORLEANS – Holding a six-point lead at halftime, the No. 22 Loyola University New Orleans men's basketball team battled a tough No. 10 Faulkner team, falling 93-88 Thursday night at The Den.
The Eagles led by as many as 10 points through the first six minutes of play, and they even pushed the lead to 20-8 with 12:30 left in the first half. Loyola made 50 percent (5-for-10) of its shots during that time, but Faulkner was a red-hot 64 percent (9-for-14) from the field. During the next three minutes, the Wolf Pack went on an 11-3 run to cut the Eagles' lead to 23-19. Faulkner, however, extended the score back out to 11 less than two minutes later.
Trailing 37-29, Terry Smith Jr., Tim Cameron and Myles Burns made consecutive shots to cut the deficit to four. Burns got back-to-back steals that turned into points then picked up an offensive rebound and a score to help Loyola take its first lead of the game, 40-39, with two minutes to play. Smith Jr. converted a floater, and the Wolf Pack finished the first half on a 9-2 run to grab a 47-41 lead into the break.
Faulkner steadily chipped away at Loyola's advantage in the second half, regaining the lead at 63-61 with 10 minutes to play. The Eagles built their lead to double digits over the next five minutes, but Loyola would bounce back. The Pack would cut the Eagle lead to three points, 91-88, with back-to-back baskets in the paint by Burns, but Faulkner would clinch the game on free throws.
The Wolf Pack will play one final game in The Den Saturday when Middle Georgia State comes to town for a 2 p.m. game.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Stacy Hollowell
"Tonight Faulkner played smart basketball and shot the cover off the ball. We had a tough time getting stops but I thought our kids played really hard and with a lot of passion. I think that kind of effort will carry us down the stretch."
Pack Facts
Myles Burns scored 29 points, which matches his season-high, and 11 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season.
Burns' four steals Thursday moved him to second all-time in Loyola history with 159 for his career. He's four steals away from breaking the all-time record, and 11 steals away from breaking the single-season record that he set as a freshman last season.
Burns also had a block in the game, giving him 62 for his career. He's now tied for eighth all-time in Loyola's record book.
Tim Cameron added two steals with 62 steals and he's third behind Burns' freshman season (85) and Burns this season (74).
Cameron tallied a game-high nine assists for the second straight game to match his season-high.
Zach Wrightsil's four assists moved him to 115 for his career, which puts him seventh all-time.
Terry Smith Jr. had four rebounds against Faulkner, moving him to fifth all-time in the program's history with 627 career rebounds.
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.
