The name of the game for the Loyola men’s basketball team in a showdown with Belhaven was to contain Blazer scorers Bobby Johnson and James Bryant, who have combined for half of Belhaven’s 72.3 points per game.
For most of the game, the ‘Pack did; but when Mario Faranda, finance sophomore and Loyola’s best option to defend Bryant on the post fouled out in the final minutes, containing Belhaven’s stars would turn out to be inconsequential.
The Blazers squeaked by with a 52-49 win. , despite the second half play of Luke Zumo, general studies sophomore. He missed a 3-pointer with .9 seconds left to force overtime.
With 45 seconds to go and trailing 50-49, Zumo mishandled an inbounds pass, but the referee whistled a Giorlando timeout late.
Zumo then drove into a clogged lane on the ensuing possession and misfired short. Bunn fouled Bobby Johnson, who converted both foul shots.
After Zumo missed a tying three-point runner, Johnson got the rebound but traveled with 5.1 seconds left.
Zumo got the ensuing in-bounds pass, tried to unmark himself at the top of the key but the game-tying shot was short.
“They made plays late, we were just one or two plays away at the end,” said Giorlando of the final sequence of events.
The ‘Pack thoroughly frustrated Bobby Johnson, who averages 18.1 points, holding him to 15 points on a lackluster 4-of-12 shooting. Two nights before he had tallied 35 points in a Belhaven win over Pensacola Christian.
James Bryant was Belhaven’s other double figure scorer with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Keeping both from tallying a lot of points put the ‘Pack (sixth in the GCAC) in a commanding position to snag a win from the fourth-place Blazers.
Faranda notched 12 points on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting night. He brought down five rebounds before fouling out in the 34th minute.
Forward Jon Creel, history senior, scored four points at the start of the first half and two more early in overtime.
“It definitely changed the complexion of the game when Mario fouled out,” Zumo said. “We knew we had to keep feeding it into the paint, even though we knew he wasn’t there.”
However, Belhaven doggedly collapsed on Creel, general business sophomore Bear Wurts and marketing senior James Olivard, not allowing the ‘Pack to find any other efficient scoring option in the last six minutes of play.
“I felt absolutely helpless,” Faranda said. “I think I could have helped my team when we were losing by one with a couple of minutes left. I think I could have made a basket down low.”
What also stunted the last ditch efforts to win was the fact that Loyola was 7-of- 12 from the foul line.
“I’m extremely proud of this team,” said Coach Michael Giorlando. “It was a game to the last play. Belhaven made some runs, but we hit them with some runs back,” he said.
Lady ‘Pack 53, Belhaven 44
The ‘Pack’s safe hands and sure shooting defeated Belhaven 53-44.
“We were out for revenge this time around because they were the first loss of our season,” said Kiely Schork, communications junior, about the Loyola’s battle with Belhaven College last Thursday night.
Schork led all scorers with 13 points. Dani Holland, criminal justice senior, led the ‘Pack in rebounding with eight despite Loyola being out-rebounded 49-41.
It was a close game as the first half ended with Loyola up on Belhaven by nine. The ‘Pack focused on ball control during the second half as the team limited itself to 18 turnovers while forcing Belhaven to commit 25.
Loyola shot 83 percent from the free-throw line in the second half and nabbed 11 steals for the night.
The ‘Pack is currently third in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (6-4) and has its final home game of the year on Saturday against Tougaloo College.
Ramon Vargas can be reached at [email protected]. Kathy Martinez can be reached at [email protected].
