Loyola men’s basketball team defeats the University of Mobile Rams in a nail biter

Loyola+mens+basketball+team+huddles+before+the+start+of+their+game+against+the+University+of+Mobile+on+Jan.+12.+Photo+credit%3A+Caroline+Gonzalez

Loyola men’s basketball team huddles before the start of their game against the University of Mobile on Jan. 12. Photo credit: Caroline Gonzalez

Caroline Gonzalez

It was an exciting night in Montgomery, Alabama as the Loyola University New Orleans men’s basketball team took on the University of Mobile.

The last time the two teams matched up was in the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament, where the Wolf Pack defeated the Rams to advance to the second round. Tonight, the Rams looked for revenge over the Wolf Pack.

The Wolf Pack came out slow in the first half, not only did they have difficulty getting stops on defense, but they also struggled finishing around the rim.

With the pack trailing by as much as 17 with 9:40 remaining on the clock, Stacy Hollowell, head coach, made the adjustment from man-to-man defense, to a 2-3 zone. Holding the rams to just 11 points in the remaining ten minutes of the half, the pack trailed by only five going into the second half.

The second half was a nail biter as neither team could pull away with a lead more than six points.

In the last 1:30 of the game, Nick Parker shot a 3-pointer that bounced off the rim just in time for Johnny Griffin Jr. to soar above the rim and put the ball in the basket.

“I knew I had it, my defender wasn’t looking at me so I just went up and got it,” Griffin Jr said.

With the score 62-60 and five seconds remaining, Mobile’s D.J. Hill was fouled and sent to the free throw line for two shots. Hill sank both free throws to tie the game. The ball was inbounded to Jalen Gray who took the ball coast to coast and sank a left-handed lay up to secure the win for the Wolf Pack.

“Coach said get to the rim in five seconds so I put my head down and went in,” Gray said.

With this win, the Wolf Pack are now 4-2 in conference play and 11-4 overall. The Wolf Pack will take the court again this Saturday, Jan. 14 to take on Bethel University on the road.