Basketball is a game of runs, especially in college. On Monday night, Loyola (7-14, 6-4 conference) was on the winning end in a battle of runs versus Colgate (10-12, 6-5 conference), edging them 68-65. Colgate finished the game on a cold shooting streak (only making two of their final eight field goals), while Eric Laster sank a 3-pointer with eight seconds left to give Loyola the late lead they needed for the win.
Neither team was able to get a clear stronghold on the game. Loyola’s largest lead of was five in the second half. It seemed that when one team got hot, the other one did as well. This also occurred with cold-shooting streaks: both teams sustained five minutes respectively where neither team scored.
Sophomore Tom Rivard of Colgate led all scorers with 19 points. Loyola’s sophomore Cam Gregory had a game-high 10 rebounds.
The story of the first half was how Rivard took over the game and Colgate was scoring at ease in the paint. He had 16 points in the first half to go with three rebounds, but he cooled off in the second half when he had to sit out with three personal fouls. Colgate’s senior Austin Tillotson and sophomore Jordan Swopshire took Rivard’s place as scorers for Colgate, collecting nine and 11 points respectively.
Loyola’s head coach G.G. Smith was very expressive throughout the entire game. He got called for a technical foul in the second half, and he even replaced the entire Loyola lineup on the floor at once. He was clearly frustrated during the first half when Colgate was dominating in the paint. A massive reason for Loyola remaining calm and competitive in the game — and being tied at 36 at half — was a balanced attack from Andre Walker, Jarred Jones, and Laster. The key play in the first half was in the last minute when Loyola forced a turnover and created a fast-break opportunity, which resulted in a Colgate goaltending call. Laster’s key 3-pointers down the stretch were essential for a Loyola victory.
Loyola is now third in the Patriot League. Their next game is Feb. 3 at Lehigh University. The next Loyola home game is Feb.10 versus Navy.
