No. 19 Wolf Pack defeats Middle Georgia to advance at SSAC Championship

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The top-seeded Loyola Wolf Pack men's basketball team opened up the 2023 Southern States Athletic Conference Championship with a win on Thursday, as the team defeated the eighth seed, Middle Georgia State, 69-54 in the quarterfinal game.

Friday's semifinals are set, with the Wolf Pack (22-6) taking on No. 5 seed Stillman for a game scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. 

Middle Georgia opened the game scoring first on free throws, but Loyola answered with a breakaway dunk off a steal from Matthew Mondesir. Jalen Galloway hit the next three shots for the Wolf Pack in the paint, as the teams traded baskets in a close game for the first six minutes. The Knights made a three-pointer and a jumper to take an 11-10 lead at the 12:22 mark, but that was the last time they would lead in the game. 

Loyola went ahead on a putback and-one from Mondesir, followed by buckets by Leonard Jackson, Galloway, and Zach Muller before the Knights finally ended the 9-0 run by the Pack. Loyola's defense then held MGA to just four makes over the last 12 minutes as the Wolf Pack closed out the half on a 23-8 run.

Galloway and Mondesir combined for 19 points in the first half, matching Middle Georgia's total, as Loyola went into the break leading 33-19. 

After not making any threes in the first half, the Wolf Pack came out firing from long range in the second, as Blake Burkey hit one two minutes into the period. Burkey, who recently returned from injury, made his mark in the second half with 11 points. Loyola wasn't done behind the arc either, as Milan Mejia and Leonard Jackson each knocked one down before the next media timeout. Jackson then found Mejia in the corner for another three, and layups by Burkey and Mondesir extended the advantage to 21 points at 55-34, the team's largest lead of the game. 

In the closing minutes, Bradley Alcime and Andrew Stagni joined the scoring party and Burkey hit another three as the Wolf Pack ran the clock out to advance. 

Tournament Schedule

Wednesday, Feb. 22 at the Multiplex

Game 2: #8 Middle Georgia def. #9 Talladega def. , 64-51

Game 4: #7 Life def. #10 Brewton-Parker, 86-77

Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Multiplex

Game 6: #5 Stillman def. #4 Dalton State, 66-61

Game 8: #1 Loyola def. #8 Middle Georgia, 69-54

Game 10: #7 Life vs. #2 Faulkner - 6:15 pm

Game 12: #3 Mobile vs. #6 Blue Mountain - 9:45 pm

Friday, Feb. 24 at the Multiplex

Game 14: #5 Stillman vs. #1 Loyola - 3:00 pm

Game 16: Winner of Game 10 vs. Winner of Game 12 - 7:00 pm

Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Multiplex:

Championship: Winner of Game 14 vs. Winner of Game 16 - 6:30 pm

Pack Facts

• Loyola had five players score in double figures, with Jalen Galloway leading the team at 13 points and nine rebounds. 

• Leonard Jackson and Blake Burkey each finished with 11 points, while Matthew Mondesir and Milan Mejia had 10 apiece. 

• Mejia and Burkey both sank two three-pointers. 

• In addition to his 10 points, Mondesir also filled up the box score with four assists and three steals, both of which were game highs, and seven rebounds. 

• Loyola will be playing in the program's eighth-straight semifinal on Friday. 

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.