LSUA beats Loyola in overtime

NEW ORLEANS –  The Loyola Wolf Pack men's basketball team took another tough loss on Saturday, losing to LSU Alexandria in overtime, 67-66, in The Den. Loyola (3-7, 2-1 in SSAC) is set to resume conference play next week, hosting William Carey on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m.
 

The Generals got off to a good start, taking a 10-2 lead in the first three minutes. Cameron Williams hit a 3-pointer to stop their initial run, but LSUA was still able to take a 17-6 lead six minutes into the game. Julian Baldwin, Leonard Jackson and Alex Hammond all scored their first points after that, 17-13, and a 3-pointer by Jackson helped cap off a 15-2 run for the Wolf Pack that saw them jump ahead 21-19 with less than nine minutes until halftime. 
 

Braelee Albert hit one from long range as well, 25-20, and two free throws by the graduate student put Loyola ahead 27-22 with five minutes left on the clock. Alexandria was able to tie it at 29, but a 3 by Milan Mejia and buckets each from Bradley Alcime and Albert brought the score to 36-30 at the break. 
 

The Pack continued to hold off the Generals in the second half. With 16 minutes remaining in the contest, Loyola took a double-digit lead with a Mejia triple and a Hammond jumper, 43-33. However, LSUA climbed back into the match, reducing the Loyola lead to three with 13 minutes left, 43-40. The Wolf Pack and the Generals exchanged jabs throughout the second half with Loyola yielding the lead to LSUA with 1 minute remaining, 58-56. A dunk by Baldwin tied the match up at 58-58, pushing the contest into overtime.
 

After LSUA scored the first two points of the overtime period, Hammond tied it with two free throws in the first minute. Two more free throws, this time from Mejia, and a field goal by Hammond put the Pack ahead by four, 64-60 with two minutes to go, but two free throws and a 3-pointer by the Generals cut Loyola's lead to 66-65 in the final minute. The Wolf Pack had the ball with under 10 seconds, however, Alexandria got a steal and score to go up by one. Mejia's potential game-winner drew iron at the buzzer, though. 
 

Pack Facts

• Braelee Albert led the team with 14 points and eight rebounds. 

• Milan Mejia and Alex Hammond were also in double figures for the game with 13 points each.

• Hammond also led the team with four steals. 

• Julian Baldwin finished with eight points and six boards, plus two blocks. 

• Kameron Johnson didn't score, but he did have a team-high four assists.