MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Loyola University New Orleans men’s basketball team continues to make history. The Wolf Pack already claimed the regular-season conference title one week ago, and on Saturday, the team won its second Southern States Athletic Conference Championship tournament title in the last four years. The program won its first SSAC Championship tournament in 2019.
Top-seeded Loyola (31-1) took down No. 2 seed Talladega in the title game at the SSAC Men’s Basketball Championship by a final score of 72-64, earning an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship tournament. Loyola will now prepare for its next challenge, as the team prepares to host the NAIA National Championship Opening Round next month. The NAIA will announce the Opening Round brackets on Thursday, March 3.
The Wolf Pack started off on a good note, as Terry Smith Jr. got the Wolf Pack on the board with the first two points of the game, followed by a three from Myles Burns. Loyola did not trail in the first 12 minutes of action, holding as large as a five-point lead at 15-10 after another three-pointer from Andrew Fava. Talladega took its first lead of the game at the 7:54 mark of the half, but the game would remain close, with neither team leading by more than three points for the rest of the period.
Loyola would go into halftime tied up with the Tornadoes, 33-33.
Talladega struck first in the second half, but Loyola was in control for most of the half. Leading 45-44 at the 14-minute mark, the Wolf Pack went on a 10-0 run with buckets from Burns, Zach Wrightsil, and Jalen Galloway. After that, the Loyola lead never dipped below seven points, reaching as many as 14 points (61-47) with a putback from Burns.
Brandon Davis and Burns made every free throw attempt within the last minute of play, holding off Talladega to capture the title with a final score of 72-64.
PACK FACTS
- This is the second SSAC Championship tournament title in program history. Loyola also won the 2019 tournament championship, in Myles Burns and Zach Wrightsil‘s freshman season.
- Burns and Wrightsil each went for 21 points to lead all scorers in Saturday’s championship game. Burns also grabbed 12 rebounds for his 12th double-double this season and 47th of his career.
- Wrightsil continues to climb the single-season Loyola records. He’s now totaled 591 points this season, sixth in Loyola history. He also has 274 rebounds, fifth in a season in program history.
- Andrew Fava is also moving up the record books, as he’s now tied for 6th in single-season three-pointers in Loyola history with 78. Fava and Jalen Galloway each hit two triples in the game.
- Loyola held Talladega to just 37 percent shooting, dominating the rebounding battle 47-25.
- The Wolf Pack have faced Talladega three Saturdays in a row, winning each matchup by at least six points.
You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
{Courtesy: Loyola Athletics}