Men’s Basketball: BU flips script on Loyola in two-way rematch win

By Hannah Yoshinaga 

Perhaps no moment better signifies BU’s 67-50 win over Loyola Maryland Wednesday than the Terriers’ 25-0 run against the Greyhounds mid-game.

Loyola (11-7, 5-2 PL) did not seem to have much of an answer for BU (12-8, 3-4 PL) in any facet of the game, trailing 30-16 at the half and ending with a 42-25 deficit on the boards. The contest was far different from the teams’ first matchup on January 7 when BU fell 66-58 to Loyola at home.

Sophomore guard Caelan Jones went 5-for-9 from deep, contributing 15 points off the bench in a career-best three-point performance. Senior forward Walter Whyte also led with 15 points, along with five rebounds and a steal.

After struggling from the floor against Navy on Sunday, fifth-year guard Javante McCoy posted 10 points, seven assists and eight rebounds.

Following the opening tip, the Greyhounds worked their way to an early lead behind Cam Spencer and eventually found themselves with a 13-5 advantage.

However, Jones sank three shots from beyond the arc early on, and the Terriers went on their 25-0 run midway through the first period. Loyola failed to convert on its final 14 shot attempts of the half, giving BU a 14-point advantage heading into the break.

An 8-0 run within the first few minutes of the second period allowed the Greyhounds to cut the deficit to only nine points. Junior guard Ethan Brittain-Watts quickly responded with a three to bring the lead back to 12, and the Terriers quickly stretched the lead to as much as 20 points.

BU led by fewer than 10 points only once more during the contest.

Part of the Terriers’ success against the Greyhounds involved being able to limit Spencer’s effectiveness, holding him to 7-of-17 shooting, below his season average of 47.2% from the field. No other player on Loyola’s roster finished in double digits.

Loyola’s bench also struggled to be effective, scoring only five points compared to the BU reserves’ 26.

The Terriers return to Case Gym Saturday to face Lehigh, the teams’ first meeting of the season and first since BU defeated the Mountain Hawks in the first round of the 2021 Patriot League Tournament. Tipoff is at 1 p.m.