Jan. 2, 2007
Final Stats
BALTIMORE, Md.-Gerald Brown had a game-high 33 points Tuesday to lead the Loyola's men's basketball squad past visiting Marist 77-69 in Reitz Arena. The Greyhounds improved to 6-6 overall and 2-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, while Marist, who never led in the contest, dropped to 10-4 overall and 2-1 in the league.
Brown went 11-21 from the field, but hit eight of his nine free throw attempts. Josko Alujevic (13) and Omari Isreal (10) also had double figures for the Greyhounds. Brown also led the home squad with six rebounds and three steals, while Brett Harvey led the way offensively with six assists.
Marist was led by 19 points from senior guard Will Whittington (Kingwood, Tx.), who hit five 3-pointers, but took 13 attempts to do it. Redshirt junior Ryan Stilphen (Bay Village, Ohio) had 18 points and eight rebounds, but his most impressive performance came at the line where he knocked down all eight attempts.
Senior point guard Jared Jordan (Hartford, Conn.), the nation's leader in assists for the second consecutive season and reigning MAAC Co-Player of the Week, recorded his first career triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The 6'2 guard was hounded all night, however, and surrendered seven of Marist's 18 turnovers. Senior center James Smith (Nyack, N.Y.) also had 10 points.
Loyola dominated much of the first half of the game, growing the advantage to as much as 16 (31-15) on a layup by Brown at the 2:32 mark. Marist countered that attack with an 11-3 run over the balance of the half, culminating with a 3-pointer from the right corner by junior Ben Farmer (Clinton, Conn.) to make the score 34-26 Loyola at the half.
The Greyhounds pushed the lead back out to double figures again in the second half and looked to have the game locked away when they went up by 18 points (57-39) on a 3-pointer by Brown at the 11:29 mark. The Red Foxes roared right back, though, ripping off a torrid 22-4 run over the next seven minutes, 25 seconds when Stilphen connected on a jumper to make the score 64-61 with 4:04 to go.
Following a 30 second timeout by Loyola, Brown nailed a huge 3-pointer from the right wing to push the lead back out to six and Marist never seriously threatened again.
Marist shot 41.1 percent 23-56 from the field, while Loyola shot 49.1 percent (27-55). Both teams hit nine 3-pointers, with Marist taking one more attempt (27) than Loyola (26). The Red Foxes posted a commendable effort from the stripe by knocking down 14 of its 18 free throws, while Loyola hit 14 of 20 (70 percent).
The Red Foxes will be back in action Friday when it faces Rider (8-5 overall, 2-1 MAAC) at 7 p.m. in the McCann Center.
