The men’s basketball team spent most of the holidays on the road trying to break a losing streak against opponents who were in a different league — literally and figuratively.
It was a tough road over the holidays for the ‘Pack, who suffered through a seven-game losing streak before finally winning on Jan. 9.
Still, Head Coach Jerry Hernandez has been pleased with his team’s overall performance.
“A lot of guys did some nice things,” he said. “It’s hard to say you’re pleased with being 3-13, but we’ve played well against good teams.”
In a four day span, the ‘Pack lost three games, all to Division I teams, despite yeoman-like performances from management sophomore Chad Barnes, who averaged 23 points.
In addition to the games, the team also lost both of its point guards to injuries against Southeastern. English writing junior Jonathan Hernandez came up with a pulled groin, while general business freshman James Bunn suffered a broken hand.
Hernandez returned to action Monday in the conference opener, but it will take Bunn between two and three weeks to recover.
“We need our point guards. Without them, the role of everyone on the team changes,” Coach Hernandez said.
Despite not having its top two playmakers and being off for more than 20 days, Loyola finally was able to squeeze out a victory, knocking off Oakwood on Jan. 9.
Dawson McCall, history junior, hit a shot with 1.4 seconds remaining in the game to propel the Wolfpack to a 61-60 win. Barnes, who had three three-pointers, led all scorers with 21 points.
McCall, who was the only player in the game to make more than 50 percent of his field goals, finished with 14.
Powell and James Olivard, marketing freshman, each added 10 points for the Wolfpack.
Matt Truax led the game in rebounds with eight. Economics junior Mike Senna got four of the five blocked shots in the game.
Oakwood, an NCAA Division III school, fell to 6-6.
The win meant Loyola would enter conference play on a high note.
But despite a valiant — and nearly dominant — effort on Monday, Loyola fell in its conference opener to Tougaloo, 78-73 in overtime in Jackson, Miss.
Barnes had 24 points and nine rebounds, both of which led the game. Olivard added 19 points and seven boards.
The Wolfpack forced the overtime frame when Barnes took a pass from Hernandez and hit a lay-up as the clock ran out.
Hernandez led the team with four assists in spite of reduced playing time because of his injury.
Loyola was down by one with 30 seconds left in overtime, when a Tougaloo player was fouled while nailing a three-pointer as the shot clock expired.
The free throw sealed the loss for Loyola, despite the fact that the ‘Pack statistically dominated the game.
Loyola shot 58 percent from behind the arc and 80 percent from the free throw line; they out-rebounded the Bulldogs 35-21; and they held Tougaloo below its season average of 87.9 points
But the Bulldogs’ win can be attributed the fact that they took 19 more shots and dished out five more assists than the ‘Pack.
Tougaloo (10-5, 2-0) was led by Jamal Bouldin’s 15 points.
The loss dropped Loyola to 0-1 in the conference and 3-13 overall. But the coach has been very pleased with what he’s seen recently.
“The last nine minutes of the Oakwood game and (the Tougaloo) game is some of the best basketball we’ve played. We had a serious attitude adjustment when we were down 10 against Oakwood,” Coach Hernandez said.
By the time the ‘Pack takes on Mobile in the Den on Jan. 30, Loyola will have played 11 of 12 games on the road, eight of them in a row. The latter streak concluded yesterday at Belhaven (5-8, 0-1).
Tomorrow, the ‘Pack will host William Carey (5-9, 2-1) at 7:30.
“We have 15 games left and we’re still young,” Hernandez added. “You never know what can happen. We have the capability for the first time in a long time to beat anyone in the conference.”
