Led by arguably their best offensive output of the season, Loyola defeated Rider 70-63 on Friday, Feb. 5 at Alumni Gym in Lawrenceville, N.J. The Hounds ended the game with five of their players scoring in double figures. Among them, was senior guard Brett Harvey who scored 15 points and was three-for-five from deep. Friday's game was Harvey's best offensive effort since returning to the Loyola starting lineup several games ago, a promising sign for the team.
Forward Shane Walker recorded a double-double for the Hounds, scoring 12 points to go along with his 12 rebounds on the evening. Coach Jimmy Patsos relied on Shane Walker in this contest, as Walker played 37 of the 40 possible minutes in the contest.
J'hared Hall was once again a factor for Loyola off of the bench, adding 14 points in just 20 minutes of play. All 14 of Hall's points came in the first half, keeping the Hounds locked in a tight contest with the Broncos. The guard rotation of Harvey, Hall, Olson, and Rudolph was highly effective, as all four players scored in double figures for the team. With all four players in a rhythm, the Loyola offense could be difficult to stop in the last weeks of the MAAC season.
Injured forward Tony Lewis returned for Loyola, which can only help the Hounds who can use the extra depth as they look towards the MAAC tournament. Shooting nearly 56 percent from behind the three-point line may also be credited to Loyola's newfound depth at the guard position.
Trailing 45-43 at the halfway point, Loyola opened the second period with a 14-4 run that put the Hounds in control of the game. Rider would once again pull ahead to a 60-58 lead, but this would be the last time the Broncos would do so. Loyola scored 10 straight points to take the lead for good at 68-60. Friday's game also marked the return of the team's 2008 scoring leader, Jamal Barney. Barney had been away for the team for several weeks due to personal reasons, and his return was seen as a positive for the team. Barney's ability to create on the offensive end is unrivaled by anyone on the team, or arguably in the conference.
Perhaps having a fresh Barney will allow the team to thrive when each game becomes do or die. Coach Patsos will finally get the opportunity to work with his full roster, something he has not had the opportunity to do in quite some time.
As they set their sights on the MAAC tournament, the Loyola Men's basketball team won two consecutive games on the weekend. On Sunday, Feb. 7, the Loyola Greyhounds used a solid team effort to defeat the Manhattan Jaspers 62-56. Shane Walker led the way with his second consecutive double-double, scoring 12 points and pulling in 10 rebounds. No other player would score in double figures for the Hounds on the afternoon. In his second game back since a leave of absence, Jamal Barney was effective, adding seven points for Loyola. Despite just six points, Rudolph was crucial in creating for Loyola, dishing out six assists.
The game was a back and forth contest, with Loyola taking the lead for good at 48-46 with 5:30 to play. Both teams did not play their best offensively, as both shot just 35 percent from the field. The Hounds would score 19 of their 62 points off of turnovers, showing that they were efficient with their key opportunities.
With just 1:30 remaining in the contest and Loyola leading just 54-52, Robert Olson delivered on a clutch basket that afforded the Hounds some breathing room. The team returns home to Reitz Arena on Friday, Jan. 12 for a 7 p.m. contest with St. Peter's.
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