The Loyola men’s basketball team welcomed back former head coach Jimmy Patsos on Saturday night, and the Greyhounds put up their best offensive performance of the season thusfar, but still fell short in an 81-71 loss to Siena at Reitz Arena.

It was Patsos’ first game at Loyola since leaving the Greyhounds for Siena following the 2012-13 season. Patsos had spent nine seasons coaching the Hounds, leading them to the MAAC Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance during the 2011-12 season. In his first season with Siena last year, he led the Saints to the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Championship.

On Saturday, Loyola (2-4) shot 43.8-percent from the field and 78.8-percent from the free-throw line, both season-highs. Junior guard Tyler Hubbard had a remarkable game, draining 17 of his 18 free throw attempts, to go with a career-high 23 total points.

Hubbard’s 17 foul shots were the second-most in a single game in program history, behind only Jamal Barney’s 18 in a 2009 game.

The Greyhounds led 35-30 at halftime and extended their lead to 47-38 after a three-point play by junior guard Eric Laster with just over 14 minutes remaining.

With 6:05 left in the game and Loyola leading 55-54, tempers flared as three technical fouls were assessed during a jump-ball situation under the basket. After nearly a 10-minute delay as the officials looked at the replay, the Greyhounds were given two technicals, while the Saints were handed one.

Siena jumped ahead, and after two more Hubbard free throws tied the game at 66 with 2:46 remaining, the Saints would go on an 8-0 run to put the game away.

Laster shot 6-for-11 from the field with 14 points, while senior guard Denzel Brito scored 11 points (5-8 FG) with three assists and three rebounds. Freshman guard Andre Walker scored 10 points with four rebounds and four assists, while classmate Cam Gregory scored eight points to go with a team-high seven rebounds.

The Greyhounds will face Columbia on the road on Dec. 2, before returning home to face Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.

(photo via)