Courtesy of LoyolaGreyhounds.com.
BALTIMORE – A trio of Loyola University Maryland freshmen – Tyler Hubbard, Franz Rassman and Jarred Jones – provided scoring, rebounding and defense for the Greyhounds, while Erik Etherly scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the second half, and Loyola defeated visiting UMBC, 86-70, on Wednesday night in Reitz Arena.
“Playing these local rivalry games are always great because of the intensity on both sides,” Loyola Head Coach Jimmy Patsos said. “All of these guys know each other, so they are very familiar with how each other plays. I thought Tyler Hubbard really came up huge for us in the first half, and Erik Etherly and Franz Rassman were great in the second half when we needed them.”
Hubbard came off the bench in the first half and knocked down 5-of-6 shots, 3-of-4 from behind the 3-point line, and scored 14 to help Loyola build a 15-point advantage at halftime.
UMBC (1-2 overall) led the Greyhounds, 15-12 on a Joey Getz layup with 12:13 to go before halftime, but Jones made it a one-point game 26 seconds later with a layup off a Dylon Cormier assist.
After Etherly had a steal on the defensive end, Hubbard took a Jones pass and knocked down a three to put the Greyhounds (2-1) in front for good. Cormier then had another steal for the Greyhounds, one of their 10in the game, Hubbard converted a fast-break layup and was fouled. He completed the 3-point play at the line and Loyola was up 20-15 with 11:01 to go in the half.
Ryan Cook made two free throws at 8:43 to bring the Retrievers back within a point, but Hubbard again took control for Loyola.
He knocked down another three and made a jumper on theGreyhounds’ next trip down the court, making it 10-straight Loyola points he scored.
Loyola continued to extend its lead late in the second half as Cormier scored six in a row for the Greyhounds to push their advantage to 17, 45-28, before a late UMBC layup made it 45-30 at the break.
Cormier and Hubbard both scored 14 in the first half and both finished with 17 in the game. Cormier also had seven rebounds and tiedEtherly and Robert Olson for team-high honors with three assists.
In the second half, it was the Greyhounds’ post players turn to shoulder the bulk of the scoring. Etherly, who had made just 1-of-6 shots in the first half and went in to the locker room with just five points, scored 17 after the break and led Loyola with 22 points.
The Retrievers pulled within two on two occasions, the first a Chas Plummer three and the second an offensive rebound and layup by Adrian Satchell at 10:02. Both times it was Etherly, however, who responded for Loyola.
He hit two free throws after Plummer’s three and the found himself alone in the left corner after Satchell’s layup, and Etherly knocked down a three of his own to push the Loyola lead back to 13, 67-54, with 9:21 left on the clock.
Rassman recorded career-highs in every category and finished with eight points, a game-high nine rebounds and three blocked shots in 20 minutes of action.
Jones continued his solid play with nine points, matching his career-best, five rebounds, two assists, three blocks and three steals.
Olson tallied 10 points, six rebounds and three assists, as well.
Loyola is in action this weekend with a pair of games at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., at the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. The Greyhounds will face Norfolk State University on Saturday at 12 noon, and Loyola will then play either the University of Albany or the University of Missouri-Kansas City on Sunday.
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