A blowout seemed in the making especially after shooting guard Luke Zumo’s resounding air ball early in the first half. But last season’s third-best three-point shooter in the NAIA ended the night leading the team with 17 points in the 68-53 exhibition loss to Tulane University.
At times Loyola may have looked like a deer in the headlights, but when they were able to find rhythm they kept up a competitive game against their Division I neighbor.
At the beginning of the first half Tulane took off on a 17-4 run before Loyola cut their lead to six with 12:52 on the clock. The ‘Pack would not get any closer than this for the rest of the game. Tulane lead by a high of 15 twice during the match.
“We were tight and just couldn’t make a shot,” said head coach Michael Giorlando.
The ‘Pack offense struggled inside and tried to establish a perimeter game to compensate. Forced shots in mismatched situations contributed to the low 32.1 field goal percentage – Tulane made 44.8 percent of attempted shots and had four players scoring in the double-digits.
Loyola’s new triangle offense failed to open opportunities underneath but provided some openings for drives and three-point attempts from the wings. Forward Nick Tuszynski, general business studies sophomore, said timing and communication were off on the new offense.
“I don’t want to make excuses but the chemistry wasn’t there yet and we really weren’t clicking,” Tuszynski said. “But after more practice we’re going to be really good with this offense.”
The offense failed to regroup after missing first shots and seemed to stagnate, said Zumo.
After sacrificing 42 points Loyola ended the first half on a high note when Darrinton Moncrieffe made critical offensive boards and a hook-shot over Tulane’s Robinson Louisme.
But the offensive momentum failed to carry into the second half. After scoring 33 in the first the ‘Pack hit a cold-streak in the second putting up only 20 points.
Second-half defense improved holding Tulane to only 26 after they put up 42 in the first. Moncrieffe, management freshman, gave Loyola a needed inside presence in his first college game.
“We’ve never seen him play like that,” said Tuszynski. “If he plays like this consistently, he’ll be all-conference.”
Moncrieffe recorded seven points, five rebounds and a block. Torrie Beaulieu, history sophomore, put up 12 points and Sean Bennett, general business studies sophomore, went three for seven from outside the perimeter.
