The men’s basketball team opened conference play with three losses by a combined 10 points.
In its fourth GCAC game on Monday, the ‘Pack squandered a five-point halftime lead at Xavier in a 76-53 loss.
“It’s discouraging,” Head Coach Jerry Hernandez admitted.
After the overtime loss to Tougaloo in its conference opener, Loyola fell to Bellhaven, 55-53, three days later.
Management sophomore Chad Barnes, who leads the team in scoring and rebounding, led all scorers with 18 points. But according to Hernandez, Barnes should have had a chance to get more.
“Barnes was knocked to the ground shooting a three-point shot [at the end of the game], and nothing was called.”
Jonathan Hernandez, English writing junior, and James Olivard, marketing freshman, each added 11 points.
The Wolfpack welcomed GCAC Player of the Week Jaeson Maravich (who is apparently the son of someone famous) and the William Carey Crusaders into the Den on Jan. 18.
Not only did the teams achieve the 108 total points scored in Loyola’s last game — the Wolfpack alone scored that many.
Barnes himself went for 48, outdoing Maravich’s 41.
But the Wolfpack couldn’t outscore the Crusaders in the 111-108 loss.
Barnes almost led the ‘Pack to overtime after a 13-point second-half deficit was wiped out.
His 48 points set the school record. He also broke the team record for most three-pointers (11) and tied the record for most field goals made (17).
Barnes was 11-14 from behind the three-point arc.
He also led the game in rebounds with 11.
“I’m proud because I can see my hard work is paying off,” Barnes said. “[But] the reward I want is winning.”
Matt Truax, general business sophomore, had 16 points. Brandon Powell, general studies freshman, added 14 points. Hernandez dished out a team-leading six assists.
“In 30 years of coaching, I have never been involved in a game like that,” Coach Hernandez said. “We were 19-30 from three-point range. That’s ridiculous — that doesn’t happen. Unfortunately, we missed the last shot.”
In the loss to Xavier, Barnes again led all scorers, with 20, and grabbed a game-high six rebounds.
Loyola led 31-26 at the half, but the Gold Rush went on a 13-2 run in the first 3:58 of the second half to take a six point lead.
Xavier increased the advantage and had a commanding 59-42 lead with 9:22 to play.
Truax brought the ‘Pack to within 13 points with a late three-pointer, but it was downhill from there.
“The ball was slipping out of our hands, and they out-hustled us,” Barnes said. “They deserved to win like that.”
Loyola shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, but only 29 percent in the second. Its three-point percentage fell from 50 to 14.
“The only way people in this conference can guard us is to hold us, and only five personal fouls were called on [Xavier] in the second half,” Coach Hernandez said.
Despite its record (3-16, 0-4), ‘Pack players and coaches alike are refusing to get down on themselves and eagerly looking toward the future.
“One of the things we talk about is failure. The ones who handle failure properly are the ones who are going to be successful,” Coach Hernandez said.
Barnes said he sees that success coming sooner rather than later.
Loyola will travel to SUNO, ranked 17 in the nation, on Saturday.
The ‘Pack then has to turn right around and play at Dillard on Monday.
“SUNO is a bad place to play…and we’ve never won at Dillard,” Coach Hernandez said
“There’s a lot of things Loyola hasn’t done,” Barnes said, smiling.
“We will win on Saturday. I guarantee it.”
