Emmitsburg, Md. (December 14, 2024)--A slow start proved to be the difference as Mount St. Mary's lost to rival Loyola, 77-69, in the 179th all-time meeting between the two teams.  Dola Adebayo led three Mountaineers in double figures in scoring in the loss that drops the Mount's record to 6-4 on the season.

Loyola (5-4) used an early 11-0 run to take control of the game in the first half.  The Mount held a 6-5 lead after a Terrell Ard Jr. basket, but was held scoreless over the next five and a half minutes as Loyola scored the game's next 11 points to grab a 16-6 advantage.  Jedy Cordilia's basket stopped the run, but Loyola was able to extend the margin to as much as 14 points (33-19) before holding a 35-to-24 lead at the break.

The Mountaineers came out in the second half with renewed energy, rattling off 11 unanswered points to even the score at 35-35.  Cordilia opened the run with a jumper with Arlandus Keyes scoring in transition.  Dola Adebayo then converted a hood shot and a three-pointer to make it a two-point game, and Javon Ervin's putback tied the score at 35-35 with 17:02 on the clock. 

The Greyhounds countered with back-to-back three-pointers from David Brown III and Jacob Theodosiou that kick-started a 16-to-4 spurt that allowed Loyola to reestablish a 12-point margin.  The Mount stayed within striking distance, cutting the deficit to 55-51 after a Xavier Lipscomb three-pointer.  Loyola countered with the next four points, and held a 65-54 lead with 2:36 remaining in the contest.  The Mount chipped away at the Loyola advantage, pulling within three points (70-67) after a pair of Lipscomb free throws with 48 seconds left.  After a pair of Loyola charity tosses, Keyes again made it a three-point deficit with two free throws to make it 72-69 with 7.9 seconds on the clock.  Loyola's Milos Ilic was fouled on the inbounds, and he all but sealed the win by hitting both free throw attempts.

Adebayo led the Mount with 14 points while adding five boards and a pair of steals.  Ard Jr. added 13 points, six rebounds and four steals with Ervin chipping in 13 points and six boards.  Keyes and Cordilia each finished with eight points in the loss.  Jordan Stiemke led Loyola with a game-high 22 points off the bench.

NOTES

• The Mount holds a 102-77 lead in the all-time series with Loyola, the most played rivalry in the state of Maryland.  The loss stopped the Mount's two-game win streak in the series that began in 1910.
• Mount St. Mary's played without starting guards Dallas Hobbs and Carmelo Pacheco.  The duo were out due to injury and are considered day-to-day.
• The Mount shot just 19.0 percent from three-point range (4-of-21)in the game, including 0-for-6 in the first half.
• Sophomore Patrick Haigh matched a career high with six points in a season-high 12 minutes of action.

UP NEXT:  Mount St. Mary's heads on the road for the next three games, beginning with a matchup at LIIU on Wednesday, December 18, at 7:00 p.m.  The Mount will also visit Miami (Dec. 21) and George Mason (Dec. 28) before returning home to face Niagara on Sunday, January 5, at 2:00 p.m.