Courtesy of LoyolaGreyhounds.com.
MEMPHIS – Shaq Goodwin scored seven points during an 11-0 University of Memphis run midway through the second half that pushed the host Tigers past Loyola University Maryland, 78-64, on Sunday night at the FedEx Forum.
Robert Olson caught an Anthony Winbush inbound pass and hit an 18-foot jumper from the low left corner to pull the Greyhounds within one, 53-52, with 11:19 to play in regulation, but Goodwin converted on a layup 19 seconds later to start the stretch run.
Goodwin had two dunks and a free throw, as well during the stretch, and dunk by D.J. Stephens on the fast break with just under eight minutes to play made it 64-52 in the Tigers’ favor.
Joe Jackson made a pair of free throws during the stretch, as well. He led Memphis (9-3 overall) with 22 points.
“We’re just trying to get better. We lost in our last game because we didn’t play well, but tonight we played better. But they’re (Memphis) good. They’re going to be favored again to win their league,” Loyola Head Coach Jimmy Patsos said. “Shaq Goodwin is going to be really, really good.”
Franz Rassman hit a 15-foot shot for the Greyhounds (9-5) with 7:36 to play, Loyola’s first points since Olson’s basket.
Dylon Cormier, who had a game-best 25 points, converted on a layup on which he drew heavy contact, with 6:08 on the clock to make Memphis’ lead nine, 67-58, but it was the last time Loyola would get back within single digits.
Cormier finished four points shy of the career-high he set earlier this season, making 10-of-20 shots, both career-highs. He also had five rebounds, all offensive, and he tied his career-high with five steals.
The Greyhounds fell behind by 10 with 12:05 to go in the first half, but their dominanace on the offensive glass pulled them back into the game.
Cormier twice got Loyola within two in the first half, as the Greyhounds had 16 offensive rebounds in the first period.
They finished with a season-high tying 23 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Tigers, 42-29. Loyola’s 23 offensive rebounds were more than Memphis’ 19 on the defensive glass. The Greyhounds scored a season-high 25 second-chance points and allowed the Tigers just three.
Memphis led 37-33 at halftime, but Erik Etherly and Cormier had layups on the Greyhounds’ first two possessions, and Loyola tied the game at 37-37 just 23 seconds in to the second stanza.
Two Geron Johnson free throws at 18:10 made it a five-point Memphis lead, but Etherly made back-to-back jumpers and the Greyhounds were again within one.
Memphis stretched its advantage back to five, but a Cormier three from the top left made pulled the Greyhounds within a point, 51-50, with 13:10 to play.
In addition to Jackson’s 22, he had a game-high seven assists. Goodwin scored 15, and Johnson tallied 10. Jackson went 10-of-12 from the free-throw line, and the Tigers benefited from 41 attempts from the charity stripe.
Etherly finished with 15 for the Greyhounds and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Robert Olson scored 11 for the Greyhounds.
“That’s a good win; that’s a good team that we played,” Memphis Head Coach Josh Pastner said. “That’s an NCAA tournament team. Extremely well-coached and they played hard, that team plays hard. That’s a good win for us, there’s no doubt that’s a good win for us. They’re improved from last year and they have a majority of their team back, and that’s a really strong win for us.”
Loyola steps into Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action in its next game, a 7:30 p.m. contest on Friday, January 4, 2013, against Rider University.
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