The men’s basketball team continued its competetive play against conference foes en route to a 1-1 record for the week.
The ‘Pack broke a four-game Gulf Coast Athletic Conference losing streak in dramatic fashion against Spring Hill in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 22.
Loyola trailed Spring Hill (11-8, 2-4) at halftime by 14 points but made two-thirds of their second-half shots to win 75-71. Both Wolfpack victories in conference have come against teams with winning records.
“They’re the fifth-rated team in conference,” said head coach Jerry Hernandez. “[Loyola] has the ability to collect themselves and come out and perform.”
Loyola out-rebounded the Badgers 37-26 and held them to 45 percent shooting for the game.
“The game was allowed to be very physical,” Hernandez said. “I had some run-ins with the officials in the first half.”
Jonathan Hernandez, English writing senior, led the ‘Pack with 19 points. Marketing sophomore James Olivard added 18 points, and general studies freshman Ryan Kinsley, who has been a major factor in the team’s recent resurgence, scored 10 points off the bench.
“Kinsley and Joey Barnitz (who made three of four shots attempted for eight points) had as much to do with [the win] as anything,” Coach Hernandez said. “Kinsley went in for Zach Tyson, who hurt his knee in the first half and was in foul trouble.”
Tyson still managed to lead the team with seven rebounds and four assists.
It was Loyola’s first win at Spring Hill since the reinstitution of athletics in 1991.
Hernandez also credited the presence of Matt Truax, who has been out all year. Truax was one of the Wolfpack’s two leading scorers last season.
“Matt is an inspiration to our players,” he said. “We’re lucky to have him.”
Loyola continued its inspired play when it hosted Dillard in the Den on Monday.
“They have four good inside players and four good outside players,” Hernandez said. “They’re well-coached, big, strong, athletic and talented – they just go out and play.”
After falling behind Dillard early, the ‘Pack tied the game on a three-pointer by business sophomore James Bunn with 15:08 left in the first half. Over the next seven minutes, the Blue Devils outscored the Wolfpack 17-5, taking a 31-17 lead. At halftime, the Blue Devils led 43-32.
In the first five minutes and 40 seconds of the second half, Dillard went on an 18-6 run.
But Bunn and James Olivard, marketing sophomore, keyed a comeback to make the score 74-60 with 7:11 left in the game. Three-pointers by Bunn and Zach Tyson, management junior, brought the ‘Pack to within nine in the final minute. But the Wolfpack ran out of time, losing 90-78.
Coach Hernandez indicated that the crowd helped keep the game close.
“I hope the students appreciate what we’re doing,” he said. “The three-point promotion (cheerleaders giving out t-shirts for three-point baskets) is pretty good – that’s my idea.”
The ‘Pack out-rebounded the Blue Devils 31-29 but committed seven more turnovers than Dillard.
Bunn finished with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting. He had five three-pointers.
Olivard had 16 points; Hernandez added 13.
After losing to Dillard (18th in the new NAIA poll), Loyola fell to 5-15 overall and 2-6 in conference.
Tomorrow the ‘Pack is set to play at Tougaloo, where they will complete the first half of conference play. Loyola is then set to play William Carey for the second time Monday.
“This is one of the most balanced years this conference has had,” Hernandez said. “It’s probably the second-toughest conference in the country.”
