Wolf Pack drops SSAC matchup Thursday

NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola men's basketball team played the final match of its three-game homestand against the Blue Mountain Christian Toppers on Thursday night. The Wolf Pack fell to the Toppers in Thursday's conference contest, 81-63.
 

The Maroon and Gold will be on the road on Saturday, Feb. 8, for a matchup with the Faulkner Eagles at 2 p.m.
 

Loyola started Thursday's contest with a lead, helped by buckets from Leonard Jackson and Cameron Williams, 4-0. The Toppers got going shortly after, scoring the next eight points, 8-4. The Wolf Pack got back in front with an eight-point scoring run of its own, including scores by Kosta Bjelicic, Jackson, and Reece Seicshnaydre, 12-8. Bjelicic hit two shots at the foul line, then made a jumper to keep Loyola ahead, 16-13. At the midway point of the first half, BMCU got back in front with three straight triples, 22-16. In the following minutes, the Toppers managed to extend their lead, holding back Loyola's best scoring efforts to enter the break ahead, 37-24.
 

The Pack got going in the second half on the offensive end, starting with a bucket by Milan Mejia. Jackson scored just before Bjelcic completed a three-point play to get the Wolf Pack within 10, 41-31. Shortly after, a steal by Kameron Johnson led to a three-point play by Jackson to cut the Topper lead to seven, 45-38. After two triples by BMCU, Johnson made a tough layup, followed by a Mejia tiple, then Bjelicic made two baskets to cut the deficit to six, 53-47.
 

After a timeout, the Toppers held off the Wolf Pack comeback, extending its lead through following minutes of the contest. Williams got going with a three-point play and another bucket, along with two shots at the charity stripe by Bjelicic getting the Pack back within 10, 64-54. The Toppers held the lead from there, shooting efficiently from the perimeter, to keep the Pack behind and seal the contest.
 

Pack Facts

• Kosta Bjelicic earned a new career high with 21 points on 8-of-16 from the field. He also made 5-of-5 from the free throw line. 

• Cameron Williams picked up his first double-double after putting up 12 points and 10 rebounds. 

• Leonard Jackson hit double figures for the sixth time in seven games, posting 15 points plus three rebounds and four assists.