With the regular basketball season winding down and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference tournament in sight, the Wolfpack is working to gain position in the conference and a playoff berth.The ‘Pack took on William Carey on Saturday, Feb. 9, and roared to a 71-51 victory in front of the home crowd.The team had four players in double figures. Matt Truax, general business freshman, led the way with 14 points and 50 percent shooting from three-point land. Brian Bowers, computer science senior, and Chad Barnes, management freshman, followed with 13 points apiece. Jonathan Hernandez, English writing sophomore, finished the game with 12 points to close out the members of the ‘Pack in double figures.The ‘Pack took a 13-point lead into halftime after a 15-6 run in the last 3:32 of the first half. According to Mike Senna, economic business sophomore, the team played well on both sides of the ball.”It was one of your best defense performances of the season,” Senna said. “We played all out from the tip-off.”The team cruised to victory with 52 percent shooting from the field in the second half. According to head coach Jerry Hernandez, the team played one of the its best games of the year.”We just came out and played well in all phases of the game,” he said. “We executed our game plan to the best of our abilities.”After the victory, the ‘Pack cruised into a Valentine’s Day game with the hopes of finding a sweetheart but came out heartbroken after a 80-52 loss to Xavier in the Den.Xavier avenged a 53-50 home loss earlier in the season with a 54 percent shooting performance from the field.Truax led the ‘Pack in scoring with 17 points followed by Hernandez with 10 points.The ‘Pack trailed 34-19 at the half, but cut the lead to 13 midway through the second half before a Xavier run closed out the game. The loss put the team at 8-20 overall, 3-9 in conference play.”They beat us in every possible phase of the game,” coach Hernandez said.The team hit the road to face conference powerhouse Southern University New Orleans. While the ‘Pack took a three-point lead into halftime, the Knights came out in the second half and took a 84-67 victory on their home hardwood.The ‘Pack held one of the nation’s leading scorers, Toshay Harvey, to just seven points.Barnes led the ‘Pack with 17 points. Hernandez and Dawson McCall, history sophomore, added 13 points for Loyola. According to coach Hernandez, the team played well but was just out matched.”We were ahead 33-30 at half. … They were just so aggressive in the second half, and they just over-powered us on the inside,” he said.The ‘Pack out-shot SUNO from the field 53 percent to 51 percent, but free throws made a big difference in the game.”When a team gets 35 free-throws, it is difficult to beat them even if you shoot well,” coach Hernandez said.Loyola returned to action on Monday night against Dillard only to fall 80-49.Dillard’s Lance Locke recorded a double double with 17 points and 17 rebounds.Hernandez led the ‘Pack (8-22, 3-11) with 16 points on five of seven shooting from behind the arc. According to coach Hernandez, Dillard’s depth was a deciding factor in the game.”We held their best outside shooter to six points, but they just brought people off the bench that can hurt us,” Hernandez said.The ‘Pack was scheduled to end its home schedule on Thursday against the University of Mobile. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.mThe ‘Pack is scheduled to end the regular season against Talladega tomorrow in Talladega, Ala.”If we win this game, we will go into the tournament as a number seven, but if we lose the game, we will have to play in the play-in-game before the tournament starts,” coach Hernandez said.