Box Score Baltimore, Md. (December 6, 2014)—Byron Ashe scored a game-high 16 points as Mount St. Mary's defeated Loyola, 74-65, in the 170th meeting in the most played rivalry in the state of Maryland. Mount St. Mary's has won the past two games against Loyola to take a 98-72 lead in the all-time series.
Mount St. Mary's scored the final seven points of the first half to take a 35-30 lead at the break. The Mount never trailed in the second half, holding off several Loyola rallies.
An Ashe three-pointer and a Taylor Danaher dunk with 10:17 left in the game gave the Mount a 55-46 advantage. Loyola (3-5) hit three pointers on their next three possessions for a 9-2 run to cut the Mount's lead to 57-55.
Ashe again came up with the big shot, a three-pointer from the left wing that pushed the Mount lead to 60-55 with 7:05 on the clock. Khalid Nwandu then converted a traditional three-point play and a lay-up to give the Mount a 65-55 lead with just over six minutes on the clock. From there, the Mount was able to maintain the lead to earn the win.
Ashe went 5-for-10 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range for his season-high 16 points. Kristijan Krajina was 6-for-10 from the field to finish with 12 points and eight boards while Gregory Graves added 10 points, nine rebounds and two steals in the win.
The Mount offense was balanced as Nwandu added nine points, Will Miller eight and Chris Martin seven in the victory.
Loyola was paced by Tyler Hubbard and Eric Laster, who each had 14 points in the loss. Cam Gregory chipped in a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds as well.
Mount St. Mary's (2-4) shot 51.9 percent from the field and 7-of-17 (.412) from three-point range in the game. The Mount had 11 steals on 14 Loyola turnovers and held a 42-20 advantage in points in the paint. Loyola went 11-for-19 (.579) from beyond the three-point arc in the loss.
The Mountaineers took a 35-30 lead in an opening half that featured 15 lead changes. Trailing 24-23 after a Loyola three-pointer from Hubbard, Ashe scored the next five points in the game to give the Mount a 28-24 lead.
Ashe started the run with a three-pointer from the top of the key, before adding an emphatic tip-dunk to push the Mount lead to four.
Loyola connected on back-to-back three-pointers to regain the lead, 30-28, but the Mount responded by scoring the final seven points of the half for a 35-30 advantage. Miller hit a three-pointer from the left corner with Junior Robinson and Ashe each hitting a pair of free throws in the run.
Mount St. Mary's returns to action on Tuesday night with a 7:00 p.m. matchup at Notre Dame.
Game Notes: The Mountaineers have won their past five games against Patriot League opponents…The Mount is now 2-0 this season when scoring 70 or more points, and is 30-11 when hitting that mark under head coach Jamion Christian.
