Courtesy of LoyolaGreyhounds.com.
KINGSTON, R.I. – Robert Olson hit a 3-pointer with 3.7 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 50-50, and the senior guard then scored the go-ahead basket with 1:57 to play in overtime, and his game-high 20 points lifted Loyola University Maryland to a 58-54 win over the University of Rhode Island at the Ryan Center on Friday night.
The Rams (0-5 overall) led 50-47 on an Xavier Munford free throws with 18.3 seconds left, and the Greyhounds (5-1) called timeout with 10.1 showing in regulation.
Anthony Winbush inbounded the ball to Dylon Cormier between the halfcourt circles, and Cormier sent a bounce pass to Tyler Hubbard on the right side. Hubbard then slipped a pass to a curling Olson who drained his fourth three of the night to force the extra period.
Munford, who scored 14 points, led off the overtime with a three from the right side just 19 seconds in, but Jordan Latham scored the next three points for Loyola.
He used an up-and-under move on the Greyhounds’ possession following Munford’s three, and he then knocked down 1-of-2 at the free-throw line with 3:29 on the clock.
Latham finished with a career-high nine points to go with five rebounds, an assist and a block.
“I thought Jordan Latham was our life preserver tonight, he saved us with some really big plays,” Head Coach Jimmy Patsos said. “Robert Olson came out with an intensity today that we really needed because we didn’t play well, especially early. He carried us for a bit, and his three at the end of regulation was obviously huge.”
Rhode Island came back to take a 54-53 advantage on a Jordan Hare free throw, but that was the last the Rams scored in the extra period. Loyola held them to 1-of-8 from the field in overtime.
After Loyola missed a free throw on its offensive end, and Rhode Island got the ball back, Dylon Cormier came up with a steal defensively for Loyola, and in transition, Anthony Winbush found Olson the right side, and he laid it off the glass to put the Greyhounds up, 55-54.
Both teams missed shots following Olson’s go-ahead bucket, and then a Rhode Island inbound pass was tipped by Erik Etherly, and Olson came up with the loose ball. With the shot clock winding down, Olson pulled up from 18 feet and swished a jumper over an extended Rams player to make the lead 57-54 with 33.9 on the clock.
The Rams saw two 3-point attempts fall short after Olson’s bucket, and Etherly came down with the rebound after the final miss. Loyola, however, could not easily close out the game at the free-throw line.
Etherly missed one, but Winbush came down with the offensive board and was fouled. Winbush, however, missed two, , but he got his own rebound and Loyola retained possession.
Cormier was fouled with 6.1 on the clock, and he made the second of two to put the lead at four.
Olson’s 20 points were one off his career high. He also had four rebounds and two steals.
Etherly had 11 points and 10 rebounds, his first double-double of the year.
In addition to Munford’s 14, Nikola Malesevic led Rhode Island with 16 points, and Andre Malone had 11. Jordan Hare scored eight points and led all players with 16 rebounds and seven blocked shots.
The Greyhounds return to Baltimore for their next two games, first a home game on Monday, November 26, against 7:30 p.m. versus Towson University, followed by a game at Coppin State University on Wednesday, November 28, also at 7:30 p.m.
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