Forward David Curtin promised good news last Friday, before packing the bus to Mobile’s Pharr Gymnasium to open Gulf Coast Athletic Conference tournament play.
Curtin, political science freshman, made good on his promise as the ‘Pack upset No. 23 Mobile to lengthen a topsy-turvy year. The team advanced to the semifinals despite a hurricane-altered schedule and a 4-10 conference record before dropping a 77-67 semifinal game against Spring Hill.
The ‘Pack rode the play of guard Luke Zumo, general studies sophomore, and his backcourt mate Torry Beaulieu, elementary education freshman.
Zumo continued his blistering shooting pace as he scored 22 against Mobile, hitting four of five 3-point shots. Zumo fouled out with 6:47 left in the game.
Guard James Bunn, management senior, also fouled out.
“I definitely think we’re better than a 4-10 team. It’d be nice to go on a run, and it’s a better time than ever now,” said Zumo. “Our guys on the bench did what they had to do to preserve the win.”
In the absence of Zumo and Bunn, Loyola relied on Beaulieu, who turned in an animalistic performance.
He hit six free throws down the stretch to keep Loyola in the game, driving down the lane and drawing 12 foul shots. Beaulieu tallied 18 points and hit nine free throws, two of them with 21 seconds left – after finance sophomore Mario Faranda drew a charge – to increase the lead to 67-64.
The win was coach Michael Giorlando’s first postseason victory at Loyola, and it bookends the ‘Pack’s only winning streak of the 2005-06 season.
Spring Hill 77, Loyola 67
In the semifinals of the GCAC tournament, the ‘Pack relinquished a 38-29 halftime lead to the Spring Hill Badgers.
Spring Hill star Noah Woolridge inflicted the decisive blow by way of three consecutive 3-pointers, which put the Badgers ahead for good with 6:28 to go.
Mario Faranda and Luke Zumo turned in the ‘Pack’s best offensive performances, each netting 16 points.
Faranda scored on 7 of 8 field goal attempts, and Zumo hit 6-of-13.
Backcourt mate James Bunn went for 15 points.
Despite the trio of solid performances, Spring Hill’s second half surge was too much to handle. The ‘Pack’s inability to contain Barkley Falkner – who had a double-double off 25 points and 15 rebounds – doomed its potential storybook push to the NAIA’s big dance.
The loss left the ‘Pack’s 2005-06 record at 5-12.
It also marked the end of Bunn’s Loyola career, as well as big men James Olivard, marketing senior, and Jon Creel, history senior.
Ramon Vargas can be reached at [email protected].
