Tag: Patriot League Basketball

Game 10 of 37 – The Greyhounds edge The Mount 61-55

Game 10 of 37 – The Greyhounds edge The Mount 61-55

#gohounds #patriotmbb #MoveMountains #NECMBB

I missed the first six or so minutes of this game. Loyola isn’t the easiest place to get to, especially at one on a Saturday. And I have three kids under seven, so thats my excuse.

The game was very close throughout. Loyola seemed to have the lead most of the second half, before finally getting some distance in the last minute. Cam Spencer and Jaylin Andrews were basically all of the offense for Loyola. They combined for 45 of the 61 points. Spencer was constantly rubbing off the shoulders of his screeners, as he would catch a pass and curl into the lane for a mid range jumper. He isn’t the best athlete or quickest, but he understands angles and how to use his body to create space. Spencer had 26 points, four rebounds, two steals and was 12-12 from the foul line.

Spencer at the foul line

Andrews, a 6’4 186 combo guard, is utilized much like Spencer is by Coach Tavaras Hardy. By the way I love Hardy’s energy. He’s not afraid to let the refs hear him talk and he is very proactive in getting the student section involved. Back to Andrews now… Andrews was very effective getting in the lane. He has the handle and slithery like ability to get by his defender and finish at the rim. He’s a below the rim finisher, but who cares if you constantly get there like he did. Andrews was also very comfortable coming off screens or taking mid range pull ups. His three point shot is still inconsistent, as he went 0-5. He finished with 19 points.

Andrews with a hesitation dribble off of a screen

For The Mount they were a little more balanced. They just struggled to slow down Spencer and Andrews. The Mount had a huge advantage with size and athleticism. They just struggled to get there big guys involved and get them to finish in the paint. While I was most interested in their trio of senior big men… Nana Opoku, Mezie Offurum and Malik Jefferson, the two players that kept The Mount close with three point shooting was Deandre Thomas and Jalen Benjamin. Thomas was very solid shooting the ball. He went 5-9 overall, including 4-7 from three. He scored a team high 14 points, had four rebounds and two assists. Its a shame he was in foul trouble.

Benjamin was the steady point guard much needed for his squad. If they didn’t have him in they really struggled to get much going. He showed poise and an ability to set the offense. Benjamin had eleven points, three rebounds, two assists and two made three’s.

The trio of bigs struggled to finish. The advantage was there, but they just didn’t make shots. And surprise…. You have to make shots to win a game. I really like how they compliment each other on the court though. I will definitely keep following their progress as a team.

Up next for me is Towson @ Coppin State

Game 7 of 37 American @ UMBC

Game 7 of 37 American @ UMBC

UMBC shoots the lights out with 16 three’s and shooting 65% overall to blow out American 98-67

#AUMBB #RetrieverNation #AEHoops

I had some decent expectations with this game. I was interested in seeing UMBC for the first time this season, with their roster that is loaded with seven seniors. American is intriguing as well. My main focus was going to be on Stacy Beckton Jr. He is a fifth year guy with plenty of tools and has potential to carve out a solid career overseas. Well tonight wasn’t his night, or any of the American Eagles for that matter. UMBC shot 65% from the field including 16-23 from three. So yeah, UMBC won 98-67.

For American, Johnny O’Neil and forward Matt Rogers played well. O’Neil had 15 points, five rebounds and made 3 three pointers. Rogers showed a solid motor and an ability to be effective in the dribble hand off situations. He finished with 14 points, five rebounds, on 7-11 from the field. Another player of note was Jaxon Knotek, a senior wing who played three years at North Dakota State. Knotek has a nice shooting stroke and is built solidly. I think he will be a better pro than college player if he choses to pursue that.

Beckton made zero impact on the game. He was 1-7 from the field and finished with just four points.

UMBC shot the ball quite possibly the best I have ever seen a team shoot in person. Keondre Kennedy was the main source of offense throughout the game. He was hitting from three going 4-5, as well as showing the ability to score in transition as well. At 6’6 180, Kennedy has the physical tools and abilities to effect the game positively on offense and defense. He did just that in this game. I am still not sold on his three point shot. He tends to short arm it some and lacks a consistent follow through. Keondre had a game high 21 points and three rebounds.

Darnell Rogers is a lot of fun to watch. One of the refs before the game I guess saw him for the first time and said to the other ref he was shocked how small Rogers is in person. Well at 5’2 150 Rogers plays more like a 6’2 190 pound guard. He uses angles well and his quickness to cut off defenders. He is a lot stronger than he looks as well. Rogers was causing issues for American all night. He gets in the lane at will and has the ability to find others for open perimeter shots. He had ten points and seven assists.

Rogers on defense

UMBC has a ton of depth at guard. L.J. Owens, ex American guard Jacob Boonyasith and Ray Salnave. Owens is a smooth and slithery mid range shooter. He still has to develop from three and tends to lack arc at times, but he is solid overall. Boonyasith definitely came out with more energy this game. He was playing his old squad and played with an edge and intensity. He has deep three point range and is a physical defender as well. Salnave was very efficient off the bench. He plays with intensity and provides another veteran piece that is needed for teams looking to win their conference title.

Szymon Wojcik, a 6’9 220 big, stepped up big for the Retrievers. He had seven points, five rebounds and two tone setting blocks in the paint.

Wojcik shooting a free throw

I went to this game Wednesday November 24th. I am posting this today November 29th, because I have been busy with Thanksgiving and all that good stuff. Since then UMBC defeated Pittsburgh 87-77. Yes, Pitt is not good. But, UMBC seems to be pretty solid because beating a power conference team on the road is a big deal for any lower conference team.

Up next for me is Virginia Tech @ Maryland on Wednesday.

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 14 & 15 – Saturday Doubleheader

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 14 & 15 – Saturday Doubleheader

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 14 & 15

Saturday Doubleheader

 

March 2 – Game 1 – New Hampshire vs UMBC

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So, I was fortunate enough to get to sleep in before my big day of basketball. I slept until 10:30 or so. Now granted this was after I had already been woken up by my kids countless times, but the wife got up with them this time! My morning was pretty basic. I had some coffee, cinnamon toast crunch and a shower before I left for UMBC around 12:30. Tip-off was at 1 p.m. I arrived literally during player introductions. I am getting pretty good at timing things. Or so I think. See what happens later…..

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This game was the last placed team in the America East, which is New Hampshire; against UMBC, who is battling for third place. UMBC was struggling all game long. A couple of journalists that were sitting next to me were expecting a 15-0 patented UMBC run. Well, they sure took their time to do so. New Hampshire went scoreless for like eight minutes mid way into the second half, to about the two minute mark. UMBC was down by as much as 18 at one point. Brandon Horvath, a slender 6’10 200 forward, led the charge. Horvath 13 points and made nine free throws to close the gap. The game was capped off by Jose Placer. Placer hit a game winning three with just 2.4 seconds left. Before that UMBC was 2-19 from three. During this span UMBC pressured New Hampshire and they had no answer. They turned the ball over 20 times and struggled to get into their offense. New Hampshire is a young squad and it showed. Leading the way for them was point guard Marque Maultsby. Maultsby had 15 points, four steals and four turnovers. Senior guard Jordan Reed had 10 points, five rebounds and three turnovers.

 

UMBC escaped in this one. They have been battling injuries all year, but the consistent senior Joe Sherburne was once again the main constant. Sherburne finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists.

 

After the game, I left as soon as I could. Of course it was raining. I believe it has during every trip to UMBC this year. I rushed home so I could eat some of the wife’s loaded bake potato soup. I had to pick up some sourdough bread on the way home. I stopped by Panera Bread and they were fresh out, so I went to Food Lion, which is closer to where I live. Objective complete. I got home and watched some of the UCF vs Houston game I had recorded. Then I ate some soup while watching some Kid’s Baking Championship with the family. I watched more of the UCF vs Houston game, then departed around 6:15 for the nightcap at Loyola MD.

 

 

Game 2 – Lehigh vs Loyola MD

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So, I thought I would have plenty of time to get to this game. Remember earlier in the day I was thinking man I’m good at this timing thing…… Wrong. Loyola is located in the middle of Baltimore city. There is no easy way of getting there. Waze, my gps friend, took me right through the middle of downtown. I was supposed to arrive at 6:57 for the 7 p.m. tip. Well, I did arrive around that time. I had to park, then go to will call to pick up my credential. Needless to say, I walked in 25 seconds after the tip off. Objective not complete.

 

Lehigh came into the game looking to end the season tied at the top of the Patriot League standings. Loyola was trying to finish top eight. Well, Loyola played extremely well on senior night. They controlled the game from the start and won by a final of 92-73.

 

Lehigh was led by their normal trio of guards. The two seniors, Kyle Leufroy and Lance Tejada, combined for 30 points. Leufroy is a steady shooting guard that has the ability to play some point in small doses. He has a solid three-point jumper and is a good mid range shooter as well. Tejada likes to use his quickness to blow by defenders and cause chaos in the lane. He also has the ability to shoot from three. Junior point guard Jordan Cohen displayed his great vision all night. He is a knockdown shooter as well. Cohen finished with 16 points and four rebounds. Lehigh has a solid trio on the perimeter. They just lack overall size as a team. However, big man Nic Lynch did provide solid minutes in the paint. He had 13 points, twelve rebounds and three blocks.

 

For Loyola they also excel in guard play. Freshman Jaylin Andrews exploded for 21 points and hit five three-pointers. He will be a player to keep an eye on. He has good size and length at 6’4 for a shooting guard. Point guard Isaiah Hart delivered 18 points and seven assists. Hart cut his turnovers down this season and is going to be a factor for Loyola the next couple of years. The consistent Andrew Kostecka chipped in 19 points. Kostecka seems to shoot better with a hand in his face. Some guys are just like that. He is also a pest on defense. He uses his quickness and anticipation to disrupt passing lanes and ball handlers regularly.

 

Once the game was over I ran out a soon as possible. I went home and my kids were already put in bed. I got home around 9:45p.m. My kids keep waking up super early on the weekends, like 7 a.m. This is earlier than they wake up for school. Maybe we should let them stay up super late on the weekends…. Nah, sounds too risky. The rest of my night consisted of some IPA’s, leftover Chinese food, “Friends”, “This Is Us” t.v. show, finishing the UCF vs Houston game, watching some of the Saint Mary’s vs Gonzaga game and a little bit of the UFC fights. So, yeah I didn’t go to sleep until 2:30 a.m.!

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 4

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 4

American vs UMBC

Sam Iorio game winner against UMBC

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout – Game 4 

November 24 – American @ UMBC

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The next day after my trip to College park to see Marshall vs Maryland, I made the short trip to see American University vs UMBC. UMBC was coming off a successful trip to the Bahamas, where they went 2-1. They had wins over High Point and Air Force. There loss was against South Dakota. UMBC was 4-2 on the season. American was 2-1 on the season, with wins over George Mason and New Hampshire. Their only loss was to Northwestern.

This game was a back and forth affair. UMBC led most of the way but faltered to execute on defense down the stretch. Sa’eed Nelson, the quick and craft point guard for American consistently shredded the defense. He got to the rim at will and also found his teammates regularly. He found teammate Sam Iorio for the eventual game winning 3, with under 2 seconds left.

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Nelson is a problem at the college level. If he can hit the three consistently, he will have a shot in the NBA G-League and for sure a legit chance to be a solid pro overseas. The junior point guard had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Iorio does a little bit of everything for the Eagles. He is the leading rebounder on the team and provides a 3 point threat, as well as playing solid defense. He had 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Stacy Beckton Jr. had a solid game also. He chipped in 14 points and 4 three-pointers.

For UMBC it was a disappointing finish. They had the game in hand, but let American score 46 points in the second half. Max Curran had a nice game. The slender built junior, had 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks and a highlight dunk over Marvin Bragg. Sometimes the skinny tall guys can extend and yam over the broader shoulder fellas.

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This dunk is a different one. This is actually the game tying one late in the second half.

Senior Joe Sherburne did his normal thing contributing a steady presence on offense and defense. He could still be more aggressive at times though. He had 11 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals. Arkel Lamar also was not as aggressive as he may need to be. Junior point guard K.J. Jackson filled the stat sheet with 6 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists and 6 steals. Problem is he shot only 1-10 from the field. Brandon Horvath the other slender man on the team(see what I did there?), who also yams on people from time to time, had 14 points and 8 rebounds.

Overall the issue was UMBC could not stop the penetration from Nelson. He carved them up and American passed the ball very well in the second half. They could be more of a factor in the Patriot league than people originally thought.

Food for thought – UMBC had breakfast food in the media room. I chose to pass. I ate a muffin and had some water….. Very basic I know…… But I did get carryout Indian food for dinner from Tandoori Kabob in Pasadena. Spicy ginger chicken with garlic naan. Well worth the price.

 

 

 

The Life of a Freelance Basketball Scout

November 9 – Veteran’s Classic @ Navy

 Getting to the game was fun….. It was raining the whole way down Ritchie Highway as me, my Pops, Mr. Ken and Ms. Jen were conversing about basketball and other things. When we came to the split off of Ritchie to go left towards the Bay Bridge and towards the Naval Academy base or to go right towards downtown Annapolis, we didn’t realize we had to get over to the left until the traffic was too bad and the rain, so we were forced right. No worries we thought….. It should only add 10 minutes tops right? Wrong! (insert Donald Trump debate gif)

 This made us go the back way through downtown Annapolis which is annoying with a bunch of weird traffic patterns, one way streets and of course a traffic circle; because, no trip is complete while making wrong turns without a traffic circle. So we eventually get to one of the entrances of the base and enter. The entrance is literally located on a back street past some cobblestone area near the docks in Annapolis. Crazy old school town. But whatever we made it…… We thought……

 The naval base is super confusing and its dark due to day light savings time kicking in the weekend before. Its only 5 ish mind you. Wichita State vs Providence tip is at 6. We have plenty of time. Heh. Not so fast. Lets get turned around in the base and get blocked off by construction and get caught to where there is only one-way roads. Sounds good to me. Its around 5:15 or so after getting turned around multiple times, we find this other road that is a back-road that leads us in between a few buildings next to a few dumpsters and back to where we entered the base. The Naval officer that gave us directions when we entered gave us very fast and convoluted directions. Thanks, we appreciated it. So we turned back around and saw a few extremely poor lit signs that zig-zagged us through campus and to the parking deck next to the arena. We had finally made it. It was roughly 5:30. Doesn’t sound to bad does it? It sucked. Only a 30 minute detour, but hey at least I wasn’t driving. Thanks Mr. Ken!

 P.S. if anyone ever tries to invade the Naval Academy Base, hah good luck you’ll have no clue where you’re going. And did I mention we even had a map…..

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First game Wichita State vs Providence

 Wichita 83 – Providence 80

Other than the amazing human that was the Providence fan behind us, the best two players on the floor were Alpha Diallo of Providence and Markis McDuffie from Wichita State. Diallo is a point forward. Solid pro-ready frame. He could develop into a big lead guard. He has the vision and is a good catch and shoot player from 3. He plays tough defense on and off ball. On the other hand Markis McDuffie was the other NBA prospect. McDuffie has a slender build with good length and will need to get stronger. He struggled to shoot from three and mid range early on. He then caught fire later finishing with 32 points. McDuffie has a solid catch and shoot 3, although he has somewhat of a hitch in his shot. He is a plus athlete and can drive the ball to the basket as well. He is a plus defender that is very active.

 Side note about the Providence fan. He loved using the word “Bloody”. “Get the bloody ball!” Get the Bloody board!”. Classic New England accent as well. He also tried to explain to his significant other that Providence is playing an NBA style defense…… They were playing zone the whole time…… So yeah….. Very informed basketball guy.

 Second game Maryland vs Navy

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Maryland 78 – Navy 57

So in this game Navy hung tough for about 32 minutes until Maryland pulled away for the comfortable win. The intriguing players for Maryland were the two big men. Bruno Fernando and Jalen “Sticks” Smith. Both NBA draft prospects had the size advantage but struggled to get involved with the slow pace Navy played with. Bruno has an NBA frame and some offensive skills, yet he never seems to showcase his mid range jumper. His best skill is his rebounding. Smith was in foul trouble in the second half and never checked back in after like the 10 minute mark. Smith alters and blocks shots. He also has 3 point range on the catch and shoot. He is a modern 4, but will need to fill out to be a 5. Time will tell but he will probably be a one and done. Anthony Cowan led the way with 24 points, scoring many on late breakaways to blow the game open. He will be looked on for leadership for this young team. Darryl Morsell was the one that really changed the momentum of the game. He forced the ball inside with his driving ability instead of settling for outside shots like his other teammates. Morsell is a physical energetic player, this game fit him perfectly against a smaller physical mid major squad.

 For Navy John Carter Jr. played well chipping in all the categories. No not that John Carter….. He garnered 8 rebounds as a 6’4 freshman against a much bigger Maryland team. Hasan Abdullah did what he normally does playing extremely tough on ball defense and be a steady point guard. George Kiernan struggled to get involved. He was overmatched all night but will be relied on heavily in the Patriot League. Overall Navy just could not score to keep pace.

 Shout out to the Navy fan behind us that was crackling like a rooster all game and saying that Maryland’s team was not disciplined after a technical foul. You gave our heads a piercing ring each time and for that we say thank you.

 Oh yeah when we left the game, we left the base in the matter of 60 seconds, crossed a bridge and were home in the matter of 30 minutes. Better than getting lost in the base for over a half hour alone. Also you can’t park at the academy unless you’re driver has a DOD government card if you don’t. Something like that. Anyways good times to be had going to a game there.

Top 20 Pro Prospects In Maryland and DC

Top 20 Pro Prospects In Maryland and DC

Updated 1-16-18Embed from Getty Images

This list is in order of higher rated pro prospect. I value seniors or upperclassmen more so, but still include players that are very productive as underclassmen.

I have finally had a chance to see everyone on this list. Thus the fluctuation of the first one that was out.

  1. Bruno Fernando
  2. Kevin Huerter
  3. Justin Jackson
  4. Jessie Govan
  5. Jairus Lyles
  6. Anthony Cowan
  7. Michal Cekovsky
  8. Tiwian Kendley
  9. Zane Martin
  10. Yuta Watanabe
  11. Marcus Derrickson
  12. Mike Morsell
  13. Jair Bolden
  14. Andre Walker
  15. Shawn Anderson
  16. R.J. Cole
  17. Junior Robinson
  18. Sa’eed Nelson
  19. Otis Livingston II
  20. Patrick Steeves

On the rise: Tiwian Kendley, Otis Livingston II, Anthony Cowan, Marcus Derrickson, Andre Walker

On the decline: Darryl Morsell, Sa’eed Nelson, Shawn Anderson, Justin Jackson

Others in consideration: Charles Williams, Jonathan Mulmore, Hasan Abdullah, Deshaun Morman, Justin Gorham, Darryl Morsell, Jared Nickens, Ivan Bender, Cam Gregory, Chuck Champion, Martez Cameron, Arkel Lamar, Joe Sherburne, Joshua Tomaic, Phillip Carr, Jaire Grayer, Goanar Mar

Howard – R.J. Cole and Charles Williams

George Mason – Otis Livingston II, Jaire Grayer, Goanar Mar

Georgetown – Jessie Govan, Marcus Derrickson, Jonathan Mulmore

Navy – Shawn Anderson, Bryce Dulin, Hasan Abdullah and Tom Lacey

American – Sa’eed Nelson, Larry Motuzis

Towson – Zane Martin, Mike Morsell, Brian Starr, Deshaun Morman, Justin Gorham, Eddie Keith

Maryland – Huerter, Fernando, Jackson, Cekovsky, Morsell, Cowan, Wiley, Nickens, Bender, Tomaic

Loyola MD – Andre Walker, Cam Gregory, James Fives, Andrew Kostecka, Chuck Champion, Isaiah Hart

Mount St. Mary’s – Junior Robinson and Jonah Antonio

George Washington – Yuta Watanabe, Jair Bolden, Arnaldo Toro, Patrick Steeves, Terry Nolan Jr.

Morgan State – Tiwian Kendley, Phillip Carr, Martez Cameron, LaPri McCray-Pace, Stanley Davis

UMBC – Jairus Lyles, Arkel Lamar, K.J. Maura, Joe Sherburne, Jourdan Grant

Maryland Eastern Shore –

Coppin State –

The Top 20 Pro Prospects in Maryland and Washington D.C.

The Top 20 Pro Prospects in Maryland and Washington D.C.

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Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

 

The following is my first list of the top 20 D1 prospects in MD/DC. This list will change every so often the more I get to see different schools and players. Schools I still need to see more from are George Mason, Morgan State, Mount St. Mary’s, Maryland Eastern Shore and Coppin State. This list is as current as January 2, 2018.

Here we go…..

  1. Justin Jackson
  2. Bruno Fernando
  3. Kevin Huerter
  4. Jairus Lyles
  5. Jessie Govan
  6. Darryl Morsell
  7. Anthony Cowan
  8. Michal Cekovsky
  9. Zane Martin
  10. Yuta Watanabe
  11. Mike Morsell
  12. Shawn Anderson
  13. Jair Bolden
  14. Sa’eed Nelson
  15. Marcus Derrickson
  16. R.J. Cole
  17. Junior Robinson
  18. Andre Walker
  19. Tiwian Kendley
  20. Patrick Steeves

 

Others in consideration: Charles Williams, Jonathan Mulmore, Hasan Abdullah, Deshaun Morman, Justin Gorham, Jared Nickens, Ivan Bender, Cam Gregory, Chuck Champion, Martez Cameron, Arkel Lamar, Joe Sherburne, Joshua Tomaic, Phillip Carr, Otis Livingston II, Jaire Grayer, Goanar Mar

Here is a breakdown of prospects looked at per school

 

Howard – R.J. Cole and Charles Williams

 

George Mason – Otis Livingston II, Jaire Grayer, Goanar Mar

 

Georgetown – Jessie Govan, Marcus Derrickson, Jonathan Mulmore

 

Navy – Shawn Anderson, Bryce Dulin, Hasan Abdullah and Tom Lacey

 

American – Sa’eed Nelson, Larry Motuzis

 

Towson – Zane Martin, Mike Morsell, Brian Starr, Deshaun Morman, Justin Gorham, Eddie Keith

 

Maryland – Huerter, Fernando, Jackson, Cekovsky, Morsell, Cowan, Wiley, Nickens, Bender, Tomaic

 

Loyola MD – Andre Walker, Cam Gregory, James Fives, Andrew Kostecka, Chuck Champion, Isaiah Hart

 

Mount St. Mary’s – Junior Robinson and Jonah Antonio

 

George Washington – Yuta Watanabe, Jair Bolden, Arnaldo Toro, Patrick Steeves, Terry Nolan Jr.

 

Morgan State – Tiwian Kendley, Phillip Carr, Martez Cameron, LaPri McCray-Pace, Stanley Davis

 

UMBC – Jairus Lyles, Arkel Lamar, K.J. Maura, Joe Sherburne, Jourdan Grant

 

Maryland Eastern Shore –

Coppin State –

 

As I said before this list will change periodically. This is what I have right now. Stay tuned for updates on prospects in the Maryland/DC area.

 

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Loyola Completes Late Comeback To Beat Lehigh 62-60

Loyola Completes Late Comeback To Beat Lehigh 62-60

 

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Baltimore, Md – In a pivotal matchup for seeding in the top half of the Patriot League, the Greyhounds provided a late run of efficient offense to hold off Lehigh and finish a 62-60 comeback. This was not the prettiest of games for either team on offense. Both teams struggled to get into any flow and the defenses played at a high level. It was a typical hard fought conference game towards the end of conference play. The scrappy and gritty play was a sight to see for two squads battling for the four spot in the Patriot League. Back to back conference player of the year Tim Kempton Jr. (6’10 245) struggled on both ends of the floor. The senior big man ended up fouling out in only 18 minutes of play. This was a huge factor in Lehigh’s struggles on the night. Junior point guard Andre Walker (6’0 170) broke out of his recent scoring slump and also scored a late layup with 27 seconds left, that proved to be the eventual game winner. Kahron Ross had two misses in the final twelve seconds that would have tied the game for Lehigh.

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Lehigh (12-10, 6-5) could not rely on their pro prospect Tim Kempton in this game. Kempton could not use his low post scoring prowess or pick and pop versatility to provide any offense for Lehigh. This really limited them on the night. A couple of players that did step up for the Mountain Hawks were guards Kyle Leufroy (6’3 195) and Jordan Cohen (6’1 185). Leufroy, a powerfully built sophomore guard, used his body and aggressiveness to get in the lane and finish. He takes on contact well and is a solid below the rim finisher. Leufroy could have been more assertive on the night. He rarely had the ball in the final nine minutes, to the point where it was quite questionable. He was very efficient, scoring 6-9 field goals and seemed to get in scoring positions at will. Leufroy finished with 17 points and three rebounds. Cohen, a freshman guard, played solid defense on Walker early and was a spark on offense as well. Cohen did most of his damage in the first half scoring ten points. He gave high effort on defense and was a big factor in Lehigh holding a 30-29 halftime lead. He is a versatile defender and has potential to be a big contributor in the future once his playmaking skills improve. Cohen finished with 14 points, five rebounds and two assists.

 

For Loyola once again the story was the play of Andre Walker. He was in a bit of a struggle recently but this may be the game he needed to break out of it. Walker is a deadly three-point shooter and also has a solid isolation game to break down defenders on the perimeter. Walker struggled from three on the night going just 2-7, but contributed in other ways. The feisty guard led the entire game with nine rebounds and also made plays for his teammates garnering six assists. It has become clear that if Loyola will be successful and want to have a chance to make a run in the conference tournament, it will need Walker to score and set the offense. Walker finished with 19 points.

The other big contributors for Loyola were junior Cam Gregory (6’8 214) and senior Jarred Jones (6’6 205). Gregory is a high-energy post player. His skills are not the most refined in the post, but he makes it work with his relentlessness. Gregory finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Jones was a little out of touch on offense at times. He missed several mid range jumpers he normally knocks down and struggled with his decision making at times. He is still a threat on offense that opponents have to respect. Jones ended with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists.

 

In a game that was vital for positioning in the Patriot League the home team prevailed. This is huge in this conference because in the post season the higher seeded teams host the tournament games. This win for Loyola should be one to build on. For Lehigh this loss could be a crossroad for the rest of their season.

 

Up next for Lehigh is @ American on Saturday

Up next for Loyola is home vs Army on Saturday

Walker Fuels Loyola Md Past Boston U.

Walker Fuels Loyola Md Past Boston U.

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Baltimore, Md – Loyola Md held off a late Boston University run with several important late game free throws, closing the game with a final score of 77-69. Boston opened conference play on a five game winning streak sitting atop the Patriot League standings. Loyola has been a little inconsistent to say the least, and started play at 2-3. This game was different than many would have expected, even with Boston being on the road. Loyola got off to a great start and never looked back leading the entire game. The Greyhounds were led by sophomore point guard Andre Walker’s (6’0 170) 35 points, on 9-12 from the three point line. Walker was scorching hot and at one point was 9-10 from three. Conference leading Boston battled throughout, but ultimately came up short in the end. Boston was led by senior shooting guard Eric Fanning (6’5 215), who scored 27 points and chipped in 13 rebounds.

 

Eric Fanning did his best to keep his team close throughout, but when a team finishes shooting 1-18 from three it was a miracle they only lost by eight. Fanning, a solidly built guard, bullied his way to the basket overpowering his defender. Fanning has an array of isolation moves he uses to get into the lane, where he then uses his body and strength to get shots off at the rim. Fanning finished the game by going 13-15 from the free throw line. He has a knack for taking on contact and using his great body control to hang in the air and finish. He plays more like a point forward than just a guard. He sets the offense, as well as defends and rebounds at a high level. Fanning will be a candidate for Patriot League player of the year.

Other contributors for Boston were junior forward Nick Havener (6’8 225) who had 15 points and eight rebounds, and sophomore point guard Kyle Foreman (6’1 170) who finished with six points, four assists and three steals.

 

Andre Walker bested his previous career high of 31, by dominating the game from deep and scoring 35 points, on nine three pointers. Walker was shooting from NBA range. He came off screens, shot pull-ups and even on the move. When Walker released from the catch and shoot, it was as good as automatic on the night. Walker scored in bunches and forced Boston to blitz him when he had the ball on the perimeter. This really opened the entire floor up for his teammates. The scoring guard proved that he will be a deadly force from downtown for the rest of the Patriot League to keep tabs on.

Senior forward Jarred Jones (6’6 205) did not have the best game shooting or on offense in general. He struggled with his decision making and had a hard time knocking down open mid range jumpers. Jones found other ways to contribute though. He made and impact on defense and used his vision to set up his teammates when he knew it wasn’t his night to score. Jones may be Loyola’s most important player on the team, so him finding other ways to impact the game should provide dividends for the Greyhounds in the rest of conference play. Jones finished with 14 points, ten rebounds, eight assists, four steals and six turnovers.

The other main contributor for Loyola was junior power forward Cam Gregory (6’8 214). The long and slender, but physical forward was a force in the paint for the Greyhounds. Gregory was active on the boards, as well as on defense. He recorded a steal that led to a monstrous open floor dunk over a defender in the first half, which invigorated the student section. Gregory finished with 15 points, twelve rebounds and three steals.

 

Boston will not shoot this poorly from three for the rest of the season during a game. They came into the game at 38%, so shooting 1-18 is an absolute anomaly. Loyola will need to build on this win. They have a chance at being in the top half of this league and really need to become more consistent.

 

Up next for Boston is Colgate at home on Wednesday.

Up next for Loyola is at Bucknell on Wednesday.