NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola Wolf Pack men's basketball team won their 19th straight game over a Southern States Athletic Conference foe Thursday night, defeating William Carey 67-59 in The Den. The win was also the fifth straight over the Crusaders, and the Wolf Pack is now 8-1 overall and 3-0 in league play. 
 

Loyola will now travel to Mobile on Saturday for a 2 p.m. conference matchup. 
 

Making his first career start, Luke Ladner scored Loyola's first field goal of the game, then Matthew Mondesir got his fourth point to take a 6-4 lead early. Milan Mejia nailed two big 3s, the latter coming after an incredible defensive effort from Michael Harden to get the open look. Harden ended up being the beneficiary on the next Wolf Pack score after a steal from Jalen Galloway, which gave Loyola a 14-8 lead seven-plus minutes into the contest. 
 

After the first media timeout of the half, William Carey went on an 11-1 run to take a 20-17 lead over the Wolf Pack, but the home team answered with two scores from Mejia and another by Galloway to regain the advantage, 23-20 at the six-minute mark. The two teams played evenly the rest of the half, as Leonard Jackson scored six points down the stretch to bring the score to 32-30 at the break. 
 

Mejia promptly started the second half with consecutive 3s to take a 38-30 lead, but the Crusaders responded with three quick scores of their own to tie the game back up. William Carey was eventually able to grab the 44-43 at the 13-minute mark, however, Jackson flipped the lead back in Loyola's favor with a bucket and two technical free throws, 47-44. Five straight points, the latter being a Mejia 3, made it a 52-46 game with eight minutes left. 
 

Those last eight minutes were a battle. After Blake Burkey scored five points, including a 3-pointer, to make it a 57-51 lead, the sophomore added two more free throws to keep the lead on Loyola's side, 61-55, with three and a half minutes to go. Harden kept Loyola in the lead by four, 63-59, with two-plus minutes left, and free throws by Harden and Ladner sealed the win. 
 

Loyola held William Carey scoreless in the final 2:36 as well. 
 

Pack Facts

• Loyola's three-point leader this season, Milan Mejia made five of his 11 looks from deep, finishing with a game-high 22 points, along with seven rebounds and five steals. 

• Mejia is shooting 41 percent from three-point land this season, 27-for-66. One of the best three-point shooters in the country, Mejia's 27 triples are the 21st-most in the NAIA this season. 

• Mejia helped lead the charge defensively as well, picking up five steals. 

• Michael Harden, who dished out a game-high five assists, also had five steals.

• As a team, Loyola had 17 steals, their highest total of the season.

• Leonard Jackson was the other double-figure scorer for the Pack, putting up 10 points. 

• In the first start of his career, Luke Ladner scored five points with three rebounds, including a free throw to extend the lead to three possessions in the final minute. 

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.