HAMMOND, La. – The Loyola Wolf Pack men's basketball team traveled to Southeastern Louisiana on Monday night for their first exhibition game of the season. Loyola kept it close through most of the game, but couldn't take down the NCAA DI Lions, falling 90-72.

The next game for the Wolf Pack comes on Saturday, Nov. 12,  against Southern University at New Orleans at 6 p.m. Loyola Athletics will also unveil the 2021-2022 Men's Basketball National Championship banner, as well as present the championship rings to the members of the team prior to the game at 5:40 p.m.

Southeastern got the first score of the game on a layup, but the Wolf Pack jumped on the Lions early after that. Zach Muller and Jalen Galloway each scored five points in an early run that put Loyola up 11-6 with less than four minutes played. After a Southeastern timeout, the Pack continued to apply the pressure, extending the lead to double digits at 20-10 over a 9-2 run in which Galloway dropped in four more points, Leonard Jackson nailed a 3-pointer, and Michael Harden got a steal-and-score. The Wolf Pack held a 20-12 lead at the second media timeout, 9:51 left in the half. 

While the first 10 minutes went in Loyola's favor, the Lions took over for the next five, holding the Pack scoreless on a 20-0 run, which was finally ended by a Muller layup at the 5:10 mark of the half. Loyola responded well, however, as Galloway added four more points to cut it to four, then three-straight triples by Milan Mejia and Andrew Stagni tied things up at 35-35. 

Southeastern would lead at halftime, 40-37. 

After having 15 in the first half, Galloway continued carrying the scoring load, matching the first two Lion baskets with five points of his own to cut the deficit to two at 44-42. Buckets by Muller Alex Hammond allowed the Wolf Pack to get within one, and then Mejia knocked down another trey to give Loyola a lead at 49-47, three minutes into the second half. 

Loyola's last lead came at the 17:09 mark of the second half after a 3 by Mejia, but the Lions quickly answered to take the lead for good. The hosts used a 22-8 run over the next seven-plus minutes to create seperate from the Pack, 69-57. Loyola did cut the lead down to 11, 73-61, with seven minutes to play, but Southeastern was able to hold off any sort of Loyola rally.

Pack Facts

• Jalen Galloway put up game highs in both points (26) and rebounds (8). 

• Loyola had three players in double-digit scoring, with Zach Muller finishing with 15 points and Milan Mejia, who went 3-4 from deep, scoring 10. Mejia also had three steals. 

• Michael Harden tied for the game high in assists with six. 

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.