The Loyola men’s basketball team continued to struggle in conference play, falling to 0-6 after losses at Southern University New Orleans and Dillard.
“It comes down to the fact that it’s hard to get over the hump,” said head coach Jerry Hernandez.
In the 117-74 loss to SUNO on Saturday, Loyola was overwhelmed by its own mistakes, as well as the Knights’ athleticism.
The Wolfpack turned the ball over 21 times to SUNO’s six.
Loyola didn’t have the personnel to keep up with SUNO’s team, Hernandez said.
Loyola was only down 25-23 midway through the first half, but SUNO finished out the first half on a 24-14 run and took off from there.
The ‘Pack defense was, however, able to hold Toshay Harvey, who leads the conference with 22 points per game, to 15.
Management sophomore Chad Barnes led all scorers with 28 points, and his eight rebounds were a team high.
English writing junior Jonathan Hernandez, who has been nursing an aggravated groin, had 14 points.
SUNO (8-3, 4-0 GCAC), who is now ranked 14th in the country, fell eight points short of the record for a Loyola opponent.
The ‘Pack showed some progress two days later at Dillard, but came up short, losing 87-75.
Still, there were many positives in the loss to the Blue Devils, according to Coach Hernandez.
“We did all the hard things,” he said. “We played a whole game, (but) we just missed a couple shots.”
Though Barnes kept up his solid play — pouring in 28 points for the second straight game — Loyola as a team shot only 38 percent against Dillard.
The Devils, who led 49-44 at the half, improved to 8-9 and 3-2 in the GCAC.
“The easy part we just didn’t do,” Coach Hernandez added. “A guy who was 34 for 111 in three-pointers went seven for nine, but we stopped their number two guy.”
Barnes grabbed 10 rebounds for the Wolfpack (3-18, 0-6 GCAC). Business sophomore Zach Tyson also got a double double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
The loss to Dillard ended a tumultuous stretch in which the ‘Pack played 11 of 12 games on the road.
But Loyola began a five-game homestand yesterday against Mobile.
Hated rival Spring Hill (13-6, 2-3) visits the Den Wednesday.
The players hope the homestand will make a turnaround easier for them.
“[Playing at home] helps you get pumped up, and you play with more emotion,” said guard Matt Truax, general business sophomore.
“I just think we have to be intense and do the little things right, like execute the offense and boxing out better on defense.”
