COLLEGE PARK, MD. – The fifth-ranked Maryland men’s lacrosse team opens its ACC schedule with No. 8 Duke on March 3 at 1 p.m. The game will be the first time since 2007 that the Terrapins and the Blue Devils will play on Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. The game will be streamed live on WatchESPN.com with Booker Corrigan and Ryan Boyle handling the announcing duties.

• Maryland is 2-0 so far and is coming off of a 16-11 thumping of Georgetown last Friday, Feb. 24, in Washington, D.C. Senior Joe Cummings set his career high with six points on four goals and two assists to lead the Terrapins, who never trailed in the game. Junior John Haus had another four-point game, his second of 2012, with a goal and three assists. The starting close defense shutdown the Hoya attack unit, allowing just one goal in 6-on-6 play. Junior Landon Carr had a terrific outing, scoring a goal and picking-up a career-best six groundball.

• The Blue Devils are 3-1 on the season after sweeping a pair of games last weekend vs. Penn and Jacksonville. Duke’s lone loss of the season came in its only road game, a 7-3 decision at Notre Dame on Feb. 18. The Blue Devils are led offensively by sophomore Jordan Wolf, who leads the ACC with 14 points on nine goals and five assists. Long pole CJ Costabile has been tremendous at the face-off X, winning 60 percent of his draws and has a team-leading 19 groundballs. Dan Wigrizer was solid in goal in the first two games of the season, but Kyle Turri started both games last weekend.

The Count Down
10 … Since 2002 Maryland has won 84 of the 91 games in which the Terps have scored 10 or more goals for a .923 winning percentage.
9 … Maryland is 101-22 in games since 2002 when it allows nine goals or less, for an .821 winning percentage.
8 … Over the past eight seasons, Maryland and Duke have played 11 times with the Terps holding a 6-5 series lead since 2005.
7 … John Haus has seven career points vs. the Blue Devils in four meetings.
6 … Six of the last 10 all-time meetings between Maryland and Duke have been played at a neutral site.
5 … In the last 10 regular season meetings between Duke and Maryland each team has five wins.
4 … Duke has already played four games this season.
3 … In the last 10 regular season meetings between Duke and Maryland the goal-differential is just three goals (101-98 Duke).
2 … This will be the second of two Maryland games streamed on WatchESPN.com this season.
1 … This will be the first regular season game between Duke and Maryland played in Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium since 2007.

Coaching Match-Up
• John Tillman is in his fifth season as a head coach, and second with the Terps, with a 35-24 career record for a 59.3 winning percentage. Tillman is 15-5 as Maryland’s head coach. He had a 20-19 record in three seasons as the head coach at Harvard.

• Duke’s John Danowski is in his 30th season as a head coach and holds an all-time record of 302-159 (.655). He is in his sixth season at Duke and has a 83-20 (.806) record with the Blue Devils.

• Tillman has a 4-3 career record against Duke while coaching at Maryland and Harvard, all against Danowski. His first win vs. the Blue Devils came in the 2009 season opener at Harvard. The Crimson upset No. 5 Duke, 9-6, at Koskinen Stadium in Durham. Last season, Tillman’s Terps defeated Duke, 11-9, in the ACC championship game at Koskinen Stadium and then again, 9-4, in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament in M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore..

Series History vs. Duke
• Maryland and Duke have played 77 times. The Terps hold a 58-19 edge (.753) in the series that dates back to 1940. Maryland’s 58 wins against the Blue Devils are the most against any opponent.

• The stakes were much higher in the 2011 rubber match as unseeded Maryland defeated No. 5 seed Duke, 9-4, in a tough, physical game in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Grant Catalino led the offensive attack for the Terps with three goals, while Joe Cummings added two goals and an assist. The Terrapin defense was terrific in holding the Blue Devils to just four goals with Niko Amato making 13 saves to send the Terps to their first NCAA title-game appearance since 1998.

• The 2011 rematch took place again at Duke’s Koskinen Stadium, but this time the stakes were a bit higher – the ACC championship. This time it was the Terps coming away with an 11-9 victory to take its first conference crown since 2005. Ryan Young scored the first game-winning goal of his career when he jumped in the air to redirect a John Haus pass from behind the cage. Grant Catalino earned tournament MVP honors after scoring three goals vs. the Blue Devils in the title game.

• For the second time in two years the Terps and the Blue Devils needed overtime to decide things, but in 2011 in Durham it was Duke that pulled out a 9-8 victory on freshman Jordan Wolf’s game-winning goal 1:01 into the first OT. The Blue Devils held a 7-4 lead at the start of the fourth quarter, but four-straight goals by Landon Carr, Michael Shakespeare, Joe Cummings and John Haus, who finished with three goals in the game, gave Maryland a one-goal lead with 3:48 to go. Maryland appeared to have the game wrapped up in the final seconds when Carr forced a Blue Devil turnover, but a controversial holding call gave Duke another chance and Zach Howell scored with 0:03 left to send the game into overtime. Both goalies were sensational in the game with Maryland’s Niko Amato making 19 saves and Duke’s Dan Wigrizer stopped 17 shots.

• The 2010 meeting will go down as one of the most memorable in the series as the Terps pulled out an 11-10 overtime victory at the 2010 Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic in Baltimore. Grant Catalino was the star of the game for the Terps, netting a career-best five goals, including the game-winner. Duke scored the final three goals of regulation to send the game into OT and then controlled possession for all but eight seconds of overtime, but that’s all the Terps needed for Bryn Holmes to cause a turnover, Brian Farrell to scoop a groundball and Dean Hart to push the transition and find Catalino on the left wing for the game-winning shot. Senior goalie Brian Phipps made 15 saves in the win.

• Maryland won an 11-8 decision over the Blue Devils at the 2009 Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic in Baltimore. Jeff Reynolds was the key factor for the Terps in the victory. He scored a goal and had an assist, but he won three key face-offs that led directly to goals that spurred Maryland onto the win. Grant Catalino had six points on two goals and four assists, while Ryan Young had five points on a pair of scores and three helpers.

• In 2008 the Blue Devils defeated the Terps, 15-7, in Durham, N.C. Travis Reed totaled three goals for the Terps in the defeat.

• The 2007 meeting was the first road game for the Blue Devils since their 2006 season was cancelled. Duke responded with a 14-7 victory behind a six-goal, seven-point effort from Matt Danowski. Max Ritz led the Terps in the game with a three-point effort on two goals and an assist.

• The 2006 season saw the rivalry escalate even more as the teams entered the game ranked first and second in the nation. The game more than lived up to the hype as the two squads battled and needed overtime to decide the victor. In that overtime, Xander Ritz sent the Terps home with the 8-7 win after scoring his fifth goal of the game with 1:14 remaining in the first extra period.

• In 2005 the two teams played three times with the Blue Devils winning two of the three games. It was the second time in the series the two squads played three times in a season. In 1992 the two teams played in early March, again in the ACC Tournament and in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Maryland won all three games that season.

• In the 2005 NCAA Semifinals, Duke ended Maryland’s season with a 18-9 defeat at Lincoln Financial Field. Bill McGlone gave the Terps a 1-0 lead, but the Blue Devils responded with nine unanswered goals and took a 10-3 lead into halftime. Joe Walters scored three times in the third quarter, but Maryland could not close the deficit.

• In 2005′s ACC Final, Maryland turned in its finest defensive effort of the year. The Terps held Duke, the nation’s highest scoring offense, scoreless for more than 40 minutes en route to a 9-5 victory at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on May 1. ACC Tournament MVP Harry Alford made 15 saves on the afternoon, while freshman Will Dalton helped the Terps control the ball on face-offs, winning 7-of-10 draws. Offensively Maryland was led by All-American Joe Walters who scored his second straight hat trick vs. the Blue Devils, while adding an assist. Freshman attackman Max Ritz also chipped in a pair for goals in the victory.

• The 2005 regular season game saw Maryland dominate Duke at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex, but the Blue Devils found a way to get out of College Park with a 10-8 victory. All-American Joe Walters scored a hat trick for the Terps, but Duke outscored Maryland 6-3 in the second half to secure the win. Michael Phipps scored two goals and added an assist for his second career three-point game.

• The Terps dominated the series from 1955 through 1988, winning all 27 meetings.

• The teams have met four times in the NCAA Tournament with Maryland winning 13-11 in 1992, Duke retaliating 14-9 in 1994, and the Blue Devils taking the 2005 match-up 18-9. Maryland took the most recent NCAA meeting, 9-4, in the 2011 Final Four in Baltimore.

Going Purple For A Good Cause
· Saturday’s game vs. Duke on March 3 is a “Purple Out.” All fans are encouraged to wear purple to the game to help raise awareness of pancreatic cancer.

Going Gray
· Maryland players will also be wearing gray stickers with the number 42 in honor of Zack Wholley’s father, John, who passed away from brain cancer on August 28, 2011.

· If you’re interested in more information, please visit the National Brain Tumor Society website.

In case you’re wondering here are some facts about brain and spinal cord tumors from the American Cancer Society:
· About 22,910 malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord (12,630 in males and 10,280 in females) will be diagnosed. These numbers would likely be much higher if benign tumors were also included.
· About 13,700 people (7,720 males and 5,980 females) will die from these tumors.
· Overall, the chance that a person will develop a malignant tumor of the brain or spinal cord in his or her lifetime is about one in 150 for a man and one in 185 for a woman.

Maryland In Season Openers
• Maryland has a 83-3-1 (.960) lifetime record in season openers dating back to the 1924 season. The Terps have won their last 19 openers and 26 of the last 27, with the only loss coming to Duke in 1993, when they fell to Duke 9-5 on March 6.

• After losing their 1925 opener to Yale, 5-3, the Terps went on to win 40 consecutive season openers from 1926 through 1967. The streak was broken when Maryland tied Princeton, 6-6, in the 1968 opener. Following the deadlock, Maryland went on to win its next 14 openers, giving the Terps a 54-0-1 record over a 57-year span (Maryland did not field a team in 1944 and 1945 due to World War II.)

19 Straight in Season Openers
• After beating Hartford to open the 2012 season the Terps have an 19-game winning streak in season openers. Five of those wins came against Villanova (1994-98) and the last nine over Denver, Mount St. Mary’s, Air Force, Hobart, Duke, Georgetown (four times), Bellarmine (twice), Presbyterian, Detroit Mercy and Hartford. Over the 19-year stretch, Maryland outscored its foes 267-99 (an average score of 14.1-5.2) in those games.

· The Terps have not allowed more than seven goals to any opponent in a season opener over the last 18 years. Maryland has not allowed an opponent to score 10 or more goals in a season opener since Syracuse beat the Terps, 16-13 on March 9, 1983.

First-Time Opponents
• Maryland has played 78 different opponents in its 87 seasons. The 2012 season added Hartford (a 12-6 win on 2/18) and will add Marist (3/10) to that list. In the Terps’ 78 first-time meetings Maryland is 74-4 (.949) in those games. Adelphi (12-13, 1982), Army (0-3, 1923), Syracuse (3-10, 1927) and Yale (3-5, 1925) are the only schools to beat the Terps the first time the schools met on a lacrosse field.

Get To 10 And Win
• One axiom of lacrosse is that if you score 10 goals or more your chances of winning are pretty good. Well, a look at the results since 2002 shows that when Maryland scores 10 or more goals there’s not just a pretty good chance the Terrapins will win; it’s an almost certainty. Since 2002 Maryland has won 84 of the 91 games in which the Terps have scored 10 or more goals for a .923 winning percentage.

· The Terps scored 11 vs. Johns Hopkins on April 16, 2011, but the Blue Jays won the game in overtime, 12-11. On April 3 of last season the Terps lost to No. 1 Virginia by a final of 11-10, giving Maryland its only loss when scoring 10 or more goals in 2010. In 2009 the Terps lost to Georgetown, 13-10 on Feb. 21 and lost again when scoring 10 in the ACC Semifinals in a 16-10 defeat at North Carolina. Prior to that, Maryland had not lost when scoring 10 or more goals since dropping an 11-10 decision to Virginia in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament in Durham, N.C. The Terrapins got to 10 goals in the 100th game against Johns Hopkins, but the Blue Jays took the game 14-10. Virginia is the only team to beat the Terps twice when allowing 10 or more goals. The Wahoos did it first in 2002 with another 11-10 decision..

Holding Opponents To Single-Digits
• The Terps have been extremely impressive (winning 92.2 percent of its games since 2002) when it scores 10 or more goals, they have been nearly as impressive when holding opponents to less than 10 goals during that span.

• Since 2002 Maryland is 101-22 in games, for a .821 winning percentage, when it has held opponents under 10 goals. The Terps have played 161 total games since 2002. Maryland has held opponents to nine goals or less 76.4 percent of the time.

Youth Is Served
• Maryland started two sophomores (Michael Ehrhardt and Brian Cooper) and a freshman (Goran Murray) at close defense in the 2012 season-opening win over Hartford. The last time Maryland’s defense had two sophomore and one freshman starting was 2005 when sophomores Steve Whittenberg and Ray Megill started alongside freshman Joe Cinosky. The first game that group started together was April 23, 2005 at Fairfield (a 9-6 Terrapin win).

• Goran Murray became the first Maryland freshman to start at close defense in a season opener since 2008 when Max Schmidt started in an 11-6 win at Georgetown.

Face-Off Firsts
• Junior Curtis Holmes’ 19-of-20 (.950) performance facing-off vs. Hartford in the 2012 season opener is just the fifth time since 2000 that a Maryland face-off man has won at least 90% of his draws with at least 10 attempts.

• Holmes joins Andy Claxton and Brian Haggerty as the only Terps with multiple games of 19 or more face-off wins. Claxton did it three times (27 at Towson in 1991, 21 vs. Duke in 1991 and 19 at Brown in 1991), while Haggerty did it twice (20 vs. Butler in 1998 and 19 vs. Virginia in 1998). Holmes had 20 wins vs. Georgetown last season to go along with his 19 vs. the Hawks, which makes him the only Terp to win 19 or more face-offs in different seasons.

• The last 90% performance was in 2008 when Bryn Holmes, Curtis’ older brother, won 9-of-10 face-offs at Mount St. Mary’s.

• The last time a Terp faced-off with a winning percentage above 90% was on March 21, 2006 when David Tamberrino won 12-of-13 in a 14-2 win over Dartmouth.

Best Face-Off Performances Since 2000
Curtis Holmes – 19/20 (.950) vs. Hartford 2/18/12
Brian Carroll – 12/13 (.923) at Delaware 3/17/01
Davin Tamberrino – 12/13 (.923) vs. Dartmouth 3/21/06
Jeremy Pastula – 11/12 (.917) at Towson 3/8/03
Bryn Holmes – 9/10 (.900) at Mount St. Mary’s 2/26/08
Bryn Holmes – 12/14 (.857) vs. Presbyterian 2/13/09
Brian Carroll – 11/13 (.846) vs. Mount St. Mary’s 2/26/02
Bryn Holmes – 11/13 (.846) vs. Air Force 2/14/09
Ryan Moran – 10/12 (.833) vs. Bucknell 3/11/03
Will Dalton – 18/22 (.818) vs. Vermont 2/20/07
Curtis Holmes – 17/21 (.810) vs. Detroit Mercy 2/19/11

Consecutive 10-Win Seasons
· The 11-9 victory over Duke on April 24, 2011 was the 10th of the year for Maryland, giving it nine straight seasons with double-digit wins. (Special thanks to Patrick Stevens of the D1Scourse.com).

· How does that stack up against the rest of the college lacrosse programs? Take a look at programs with at least five-straight 10-win seasons:
Maryland (9): 2011 (13-5), 2010 (12-4), 2009 (10-7), 2008 (10-6), 2007 (10-6), 2006 (12-5), 2005 (11-6), 2004 (13-3), 2003 (12-4)
Cornell (7): 2011 (12-3), 2010 (12-6), 2009 (11-3), 2008 (11-4), 2007 (15-1), 2006 (11-3), 2005 (11-3)
Virginia (7): 2011 (13-5), 2010 (16-2), 2009 (14-2), 2008 (14-4), 2007 (12-4), 2006 (17-0), 2005 (11-4)
Notre Dame (6): 2011 (11-3), 2010 (10-7), 2009 (15-1), 2008 (14-3), 2007 (11-4), 2006 (10-5)
Duke (5): 2011 (14-6), 2010 (16-4), 2009 (15-4), 2008 (18-2), 2007 ( 17-3)
Siena (5): 2011 (13-5), 2010 (12-5), 2009 (12-6), 2008 (10-6), 2007 (10-6)

The 700 Club
· Maryland’s 15-6 victory over Penn on April 14, 2009 was the program’s 700th victory in 84 seasons of varsity men’s lacrosse. The Terps join Johns Hopkins, Syracuse, Navy and Army as the only programs with 700 or more Division I wins.

· Two things that make Maryland’s accomplishment all the more impressive is that the Terps reached the 700-win plateau in just their 84th season. Only Syracuse reached win No. 700 in as few seasons, but it took the Orange 53 more games than Maryland. In fact, Maryland needed only 940 games to reach 700 wins and only Johns Hopkins needed fewer games (932) to hit the historic number, but the Blue Jays did so in their 105th season.

Terps’ 87th Season Of Lacrosse
· The Terps boast an all-time record of 730-247-4 (.746), dating back to the first varsity team in 1924 (a team was not fielded in 1944 and 1945 due to World War II). Maryland has finished every one of its previous 85 seasons with a .500 or better record, including last season when the Terps went 10-6. The program reached the 700-win milestone with a 15-6 victory over Penn on April 14, 2009 at Ludwig Field.

· During the decade of the 2000s, Maryland went 111-49 for a .694 win percentage, making it the winningest decade in Terrapin lacrosse history. In the decade of the 1990s, Maryland posted a 95-47 record. The .669 winning percentage matched Maryland’s win percentage of the 1980s when the Terps went 83-41 and also compiled a .669 win percentage. So far, Maryland is 25-9 in the 2010′s for a .735 winning percentage.

A Family Affair
· Many school’s refer to their sports programs as families, but the Maryland men’s lacrosse program is truely a family affair. Since 2002, the Terps have had 13 sets of brothers, including three on this season’s roster, don the red and black together for at least one season.

Harry & Thomas Alford: 2004-05-06-07
Jake & Jesse Bernhardt: 2010-11-12
Justin & Owen Blye: 2009-10-11
Brian & Kevin Cooper: 2011-12
Billy & Bobby Gribbin: 2012
Brendan & Ian Healy: 2003-04-05
Bryn & Curtis Holmes: 2010
Bryn & Travis Holmes: 2007
Dan & Mike LaMonica: 2002
Chris & Willy Passavia: 2002-03
Brian & Michael Phipps: 2007
Max & Xander Ritz: 2005-06
Mark & Michael White: 2008-09-10-11

Game Data

Loyola University Maryland plays its penultimate game of the 2011-2012 regular-season on Friday, February 24, 2012, when it takes on Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J. Tip-off is slated for 7 o’clock.

On The Tube

The game will be televised live on ESPN2, the Greyhounds’ 11th televised game of the season. Doug Sherman will call the play-by-play, and former North Carolina State star Dereck Whittenburg will provide color analysis.

The game is Loyola’s first on ESPN2 since December 31, 2008, when it played Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Series History

Loyola and Rider will meet for the 39th time in series history when the teams take the floor on Friday with the Broncs holding a 22-16 lead in the previous 38 games.

The Greyhounds have won five of the last eight meetings between the teams.

The teams played just three weeks ago with Loyola coming out with a 63-46 win in front of a national television audience on ESPNU and sell-out crowd at Reitz Arena. Loyola held Rider to 13-percent shooting from the field in the first half and 12 points before the break.

Rider, which never led in the game, got back to within 13 points with less than 13 minutes to go in the game, but the Broncs would draw no closer.

Erik Etherly led all players with 15 points, and Robert Olson scored 14. Shane Walker had a game-high 12 rebounds for the Greyhounds.

20-Win Season

The Greyhounds’ victory over Boston University last Sunday was their 20th of the season, setting a school Division I record.

Loyola, which moved to NCAA Division I in 1981-1982, had won 19 games in 2007-2008 and 18 in 2006-2007.

More Than 60 Years

The last time the Loyola men’s basketball program won 20 games in a season, 1948-1949, the following things were going on in the world, 63 years ago:

Harry Truman began his first full term as President of the United States.

Arthur Miller’s Death Of A Salesman premiered on Broadway.

NATO was formed.

The Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League merged to form the NBA.

The first jet-powered airliner, the de Havilland Comet, took flight.

Billy Joel, Joe Theismann, Bruce Springsteen & Meryl Streep were born.

Milestones And Firsts

Loyola has accomplished several milestones and firsts throughout the 2011-2012 season. Here is a sample of a few:

First 20-win season in Division I history.

Tied record with 12 MAAC wins (2006-2007 & 2007-2008).

Tied school Division I record with eight non-conference wins (1993-1994).

Longest winning streak in school Division I history (8, Nov. 14-Dec. 10). Also, second longest winning streak in D-I history (7, Jan. 19-Feb. 10).

First back-to-back sellouts of Reitz Arena since the venue opened in 1984 (Feb. 3 and 10).

Snapped Bucknell’s 18-game home court winning streak.

On Target

Robert Olson rebounded from a subpar shooting performance last Wednesday at Marist with one of his best shooting games as a Greyhound.

Olson scored just four points on 2-of-10 from the field against the Red Foxes, but he missed just one shot (6-of-7) to finish with 17 points against the Red Foxes.

The junior guard made 5-of-6 3-pointers, 4-of-4 in the second half, and also had three assists and four rebounds.

Second Half Shooting

Loyola started the game making just 3-of-11 shots in the first 12 minutes and was only 10-of-29 (.345) from the floor in the first half, but the Greyhounds picked up their percentage drastically in the second half.

Loyola made 15-of-21 shots after the break, going a season-best 71.4-percent from the field in the second half.

Back In Balance

During the Greyhounds’ two-game losing streak against Fairfield and Marist, several factors contributed to their demise, including lack of balanced scoring.

At Marist, Shane Walker (16) and Dylon Cormier (11) were the only Greyhounds in double-figures, and versus Fairfield, Erik Etherly and Robert Olson (both 17) were the only ones to top 10 points.

In the win over Boston U., four Greyhounds scored 11 or more: Olson (17), Cormier (14), Justin Drummond (12) and Etherly (11).

Loyola is 10-1 this season when four or more players score in double figures, having not lost since the season-opener on November 11 at Wake Forest when that occurs. The Greyhounds are 19-2 when three or more players top 10.

Transversely, the Greyhounds are just 1-5 when two or fewer players tally 10 or more with the only win coming on December 7 at George Washington.

Last Time Out

Robert Olson hit four of his five three points in the second half and helped Loyola pull away from Boston University for a 69-56 Bracketbuster victory on Sunday. Olson finished with 17 points, needing just seven shots to score that number.

Olson broke a 34-34 tie with his first three of the second half, sparking a 16-3 Loyola run that would put them in front by 13 with 11:28 to play. The Terriers would get it back to four with less than six minutes, but another Olson trey would push it to seven and start a 13-2 stretch for the Greyhounds.

Telling Stats

Loyola’s two most recent losses underscored the importance for the Greyhounds of capitalizing on a few areas of the box score.

Six of Loyola’s seven losses have come when scoring fewer transition points – and the seventh loss was in a game that the teams tied in the category – than its opponents.

The Greyhounds also dropped to 2-5 this year in the seven games they have shot fewer free throws than their opponents, compared to 15-2 when shooting more.

Loyola is also 4-7 when its opponents have a better field-goal percentage, compared to 15-0 when the Greyhounds shoot at a better clip.

Balance Abound

Loyola enters last week of its regular season as one of only two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference teams (Rider) to boast four players with double-figure scoring averages, although the Broncs have six.

The Greyhounds are the only team with four players who have averages of 10.0 points per game or greater – Dylon Cormier (13.8), Erik Etherly (13.3), Robert Olson (11.8) and Justin Drummond (11.1).

Leading The Charge

Erik Etherly and Robert Olson have been the Greyhounds’ two most consistent scorers since the calendar flipped to 2012, averaging a combined 28.4 points per game since January 5, a span of 14 games in which they are 11-3.

Olson has scored three more points than Olson during those 14 games, 200-197 and averages 14.3 points to Etherly’s 14.1.

Combined, the duo is shooting 51.5-percent from the field (136-of-264). Olson is 43-of-79 (.544) from behind the 3-point line, as well.

Etherly also leads Loyola with a 7.4 rebounds per game mark during the last 13 games, while Olson is third on the team, averaging 4.0.

Tops In Conference Play, Too

Robert Olson and Erik Etherly have also paced the Greyhounds in their 16 MAAC games thus far as the top two scorers. Etherly again is slightly ahead of Olson, scoring-wise, tallying 216 (13.5 per game) points to Olson’s 212 (13.3).

Etherly has averaged 7.3 rebounds in 6 conference games, and Olson is third on the team with an average of 4.3.

Reitz Was Rockin’

The Greyhounds’ games in Reitz Arena against Rider and Iona were both been sellout crowds of 2,100. It marked the first time since Reitz opened in December 1984 that the gym has had back-to-back sellout crowds.

The crowd on February 3 against Rider was the building’s first sellout since November 14, 2008, against Mount St. Mary’s.

Still Crashing The Offensive Boards

The Greyhounds corrected one problem from the loss to Fairfield in which they had just 10 offensive rebounds in 36 opportunities. They pulled down 18 against Marist, their most since grabbing 22 on January 29 at Canisius. Shane Walker led the way with six, while Justin Drummond and Jordan Latham each had three.

Loyola leads the MAAC in offensive rebounding as a team, averaging 13.9, a full rebound more per game that second-place Canisius (12.9).

Despite the team ranking, no Greyhounds player is higher than seventh in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Erik Etherly is seventh with 2.6, while Drummond is 13th with 2.1, and Walker is 15th with 2.0. No other team in the MAAC has more than two players in the top 15.

Offensive Onslaught

Loyola turned in season highs in points (87), field goals made (32) and field goals attempted (63) at home against Iona.

The Greyhounds’ 47 points in the first half were also the most they’ve scored in the first 20 minutes this season and were tied for the most in either half, matching the 47 scored on November 14 against Coppin State in the second half.

Eight Field Goals For Three

Three Greyhounds knocked down eight or more field goals versus the Gaels. Erik Etherly was 9-of-12 from the field, Justin Drummond 8-of-12, and Dylon Cormier 8-of-16.

It was the first time in the eight-year tenure of Jimmy Patsos as head coach that three or more players have made eight or more baskets in the same game.

Etherly, Cormier Top 20

For the second time this year, Erik Etherly and Dylon Cormier both topped the 20-point mark. The duo also accomplished the feat on November 17 at UMBC when Etherly scored a career-best 27, and Cormier finished with 20.

Against Iona, Etherly and Cormier’s combined 44 points were just over half of the Greyhounds’ 87.

Drummond Raises Efficiency

Justin Drummond had his best shooting night of the season versus Iona, making 8-of-12 shots (.667). Drummond, who shot .446 as a freshman last year, has seen his field-goal percentage dip to .387 this year.

His previous best outing of the season came on December 28 at Bucknell when he was 5-of-8 (.625) from the floor.

Defensive Presence

Jordan Latham did not play in the Greyhounds’ first meeting with Iona, an 11-point setback, but the sophomore forward made his presence known last Friday night.

He came off the bench and played 14 minutes and had four blocked shots. Three of his blocks were not just redirects, but true swats of the ball. Each of his blocked shots came against different Iona players and in different situations. Twice, Latham swatted shots by driving guards, and he twice denied post players.

The four blocks were a career-high for Latham.

R.J.’s Assists Equal Success

R.J. Williams recorded five assists in the win over Iona, the fourth time this year he’s dished out five or more. The Greyhounds are 7-0 this season in games that Williams has four or more helpers.

As a team, the Greyhounds are 4-0 this year when recorded 15 or more assists.

Six Under Sixty

For the first time in its NCAA Division I history (since 1981-1982), Loyola held six consecutive opponents to fewer than 60 points.

During the span, all Loyola victories, the Greyhounds have held Siena, Saint Peter’s (twice), Niagara, Canisius and Rider to an average of 53.2 points per game.

The Greyhounds previously had held three teams to sub-60 performances just once since joining Division I, and that came during 1981-1982, their first season at this level.

The last time a Loyola team held six-straight teams under 60, regardless of division, came in January-February 1977 when it held six teams in a row – Southampton, Saint Peter’s, Randolph-Macon, Mount St. Mary’s, Baltimore and Philadelphia Textile – to 59 or fewer. The Greyhounds, however, were just 3-3 in that stretch.

During The Six

Loyola’s success during the six games was reflected in several statistics. Opponents were shooting .387, .046 lower than the season average of .433. Also, Loyola held foes to .241 from 3-point range, more than 10 points lower than the season mark of .350.

Following the Greyhounds’ game at Iona on January 15, Loyola was ranked 265th in field-goal percentage defense (.449), 325th in 3-point defense (.389), and 163rd in scoring defense (66.2).

After the six games the Greyhounds to 193rd in field goal percentage defense (.443), 215th in 3-point defense (.350) and 71st in scoring defense (62.8).

Olson’s January, Continued

After a stretch of not scoring in double figures for the last three games of December and the first two in January, Robert Olson was the Greyhounds’ leading scorer during the first month of the new calendar year, averaging 14.1.

In Loyola’s last 14 games, a stretch in which the Greyhounds are 11-3, Olson has averaged a team-best 14.3 points per game, most on the team.

Overall this season, Olson is shooting 46.1-percent from 3-point range, and his 59 threes made this season are 11th in school single-season history. His 3-point field goal percentage currently stands third in school single-season history.

Olson has made 131 threes in his career, good for sixth-best all-time at Loyola, passing Gerald Brown (2006-2008) in the game against Fairfield.

Something Had To Give

Entering the first meeting with Rider, Loyola had held four consecutive opponents to 57 or fewer points, while the Broncs were averaging 87.5 points in their previous three games.

Loyola’s defense prevailed in the contest, holding Rider to 12 points in the first half and just 46 overall. It was the Broncs’ lowest scoring game since February 2008 when Fairfield held them to 40.

Almost 20 Years

Rider’s 46 points were the fewest Loyola has allowed since the Greyhounds defeated Niagara, 68-45, on February 21, 1992, a stretch of 521 games.

Loyola has now held opponents to 49 or fewer points eight times since joining NCAA Division I in 1981-1982. The Greyhounds did it twice each in 1981-1982, 1984-1985 and 1991-1992 and once in 1983-1984.

Tied For fifth In Road Wins

As of the beginning of the week, Loyola’s 10 road wins had them tied for fifth in all of NCAA Division I for victories away from its home court.

Cleveland State, Wagner, Iona and Murray State are all tied for first with 11.

Walker Moves Into Second

Shane Walker blocked two Fairfield shots in the first three minutes of the game, and he then swatted a Maurice Barrow layup with 13:58 on the clock, tying him for second all-time at Loyola in blocked shots.

With five blocks against Canisius, Walker now has 124 blocks in his career and is all alone in second place. Brian Carroll (1997-2001) holds the school record with 213.

Thievery

Loyola caused 20 Siena turnovers, and the Greyhounds were credited with 19 steals. R.J. Williams led the way with a career-high five, while Erik Etherly, Dylon Cormier and Robert Olson each had three.

The 19 steals are the second-most in school history, one more than the Greyhounds posted in a November 29, 1997, game at Kent State. It is also the most Loyola has recorded against a Division I opponent. The school single-game record of 20 came on February 28, 1996, when the team closed the regular-season against St. Mary’s (Md.).

Running Away

Runs have been a big part of the Greyhounds’ success this year. Here is a look at some runs of note:

Century Mark

Head Coach Jimmy Patsos became the third coach in Loyola history to win 100 games when the Greyhounds defeated UMBC, 73-63, on the road. Patsos, who is in his eighth season, took over a team that finished 1-27 during the 2002-2003 season. He won his 100th game in his 215th career game.

Last season, Patsos moved into third-place all time at Loyola in victories, trailing only Lefty Reitz (349 wins, 1937-44, 1945-61) and Nap Doherty (165, 1961-74).

Two Of A Kind

Although unofficial, research shows that Jimmy Patsos is one of only two coaches in the last 20 years to take a team that won just one game the year prior to his arrival.

Brigham Young finished the 1996-1997 season with a 1-25 record. Steve Cleveland took over the following season and tallied 138 wins until his departure for Fresno State after the 2004-2005 season.

Men’s & Women’s Coaches With 100

Loyola University Maryland is one of just 26 mid-major schools that has men’s and women’s basketball coaches with 100 or more victories at their current school after Greyhound women’s coach Joe Logan got his 100th on December 18 in a win at George Washington.

Loyola is the only school in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to have accomplished the feat, and it is one of only five institutions at which the coaches have both won 100 or more games in 10 or fewer seasons.

Getting To The Line

As a team, Loyola went to the free-throw line 46 times at UMBC, making 31. The 46 attempts are the sixth-most all-time and most since the 2004-2005 squad attempted 53 on December 5, 2004, against Niagara.

Loyola’s 31 free throws made rank 11th on the school single-game chart and were the most since making 32 on January 14, 2009, versus NJIT.

Although his shot was not falling at UMBC, Dylon Cormier still found ways to be productive on the offensive end of the floor. The sophomore guard was just 2-of-9 from the field, but he went to the free-throw line 17 times, making 15, and finished with 20 points.

Cormier’s 15 free throws made are tied for sixth in Loyola single-game history, matching the total made by Mike Powell at Saint Peter’s on December 6, 1997, and Donovan Thomas against Marist on February 23, 2003. The 15 makes were the most by a Loyola player since Jamal Barney set the school record with 18 on January 14, 2009, against NJIT. His 17 attempts rank tied for sixth all-time.

Baltimore Bred And More From Nearby

Since taking over as head coach in 2004, Jimmy Patsos has put an emphasis on recruiting locally, and it has never shown as much as on this year’s roster. Three players – sophomore guard Dylon Cormier (Cardinal Gibbons), sophomore forward Jordan Latham (City) and freshman guard R.J. Williams (St. Frances) are products of schools within the city limits.

Six more players played in high school within 50 miles of Loyola, as the crow flies (thanks daftlogic.com): Shane Walker & Tyler Hubbard, Montrose Christian, 32.6 miles; Robert Olson, Georgetown Prep, 33.9; Justin Drummond, Riverdale Baptist, 33.9; Anthony Winbush, T.C. Williams, 43.7; and Erik Etherly, Annandale, 47.9.

What’s Next

The Greyhounds stay on the road for their final game of the 2011-2012 regular-season when they take on Manhattan College at 4 o’clock on Sunday at Draddy Gymnasium in Riverdale, N.Y.

Game Data

Loyola University Maryland wraps up its home regular-season schedule on Sunday, February 19, 2012, when it hosts Boston University in the Sears’ Bracketbuster event. Tip-off is schedule for 12 noon.

The Greyhounds will honor senior student manager Kevin Farrell and senior players J’hared Hall and Shane Walker in a ceremony following the game.

Bracketbuster History

Loyola is participating in the Bracketbuster event for the seventh-straight season, and it has a 4-2 record in its previous five games.

The Greyhounds have Bracketbuster wins over High Point (2006), Tennessee State (2007), UC-Davis (2008) and Towson (2011) and losses to Drexel (2009) and New Hampshire (2010).

Series History

Loyola and Boston University will meet for just the second time on the hardwood. The Terriers won the first meeting, 71-51, in the first round of the Sports Foundation Classic on December 27, 1996, in Tampa, Fla.

Jason Rowe led the Greyhounds with 16 points and seven assists in the game, and Erik Cooper scored a career-high 15. Tunji Awojobi finished with a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Terriers.

The Greyhounds have played two teams from Boston University’s America East Conference this season, defeating UMBC and New Hampshire on the road.

Free Webstreaming

Fans who can’t make it to the game on Thursday have multiple options for catching the action from Reitz Arena. In addition to live stats and internet audio, all non-televised home contests, will be broadcast free of charge on Hounds Unleashed, the broadcast arm of LoyolaGreyhounds.com. The games will be available on computers and most smart phone devices.

Wrapping Up Non-Conference Play

Sunday’s game will be Loyola’s final non-conference test of the 2011-2012 season, a slate the Greyhounds have gone 7-3 during thus far.

Loyola’s seven non-conference wins are one short of the school Division I record victories out of regular-season non-conference action

Skip Prosser’s 1993-1994 team went 8-4 out of the league before going just 6-8 in MAAC play. That team, however, went on to win three-straight games at the MAAC Championships and advance to the school’s first, and only, NCAA Tournament.

Telling Stats

Loyola’s two most recent games underscored the importance for the Greyhounds of capitalizing on a few areas of the box score.

Six of Loyola’s seven losses have now come when scoring fewer transition points – and the seventh loss was in a game that the teams tied in the category – than its opponents.

The Greyhounds also dropped to 2-5 this year in the seven games they have shot fewer free throws than their opponents, compared to 15-2 when shooting more.

Loyola is also 4-7 when its opponents have a better field-goal percentage, compared to 15-0 when the Greyhounds shoot at a better clip.

Getting Up Shots

Loyola had its shot opportunities against Marist on Wednesday night, taking a season-high 64 shots. The Greyhounds, however, shot just 31.3-percent from the field, making only 20.

Still Crashing The Offensive Boards

The Greyhounds corrected one problem from Sunday’s loss to Fairfield in which they had just 10 offensive rebounds in 36 opportunities. They pulled down 18 against the Red Foxes, their most since grabbing 22 on January 29 at Canisius. Shane Walker led the way with six, while Justin Drummond and Jordan Latham each had three.

Loyola leads the MAAC in offensive rebounding as a team, averaging 13.9, almost a full rebound more per game that second-place Canisius (13.0).

Despite the team ranking, no Greyhounds player is higher than sixth in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Erik Etherly is sixth with 2.5, while Drummond is 13th with 2.2, and Walker is 15th with 2.0. No other team in the MAAC has more than two players in the top 15.

Last Time Out

Loyola took a two-point lead with 7:22 left in Wednesday night’s game at Marist, but the Red Foxes scored 18 of the next 19 points to go up 66-50 with 1:39 remaining.

Shane Walker posted his second double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Dylon Cormier added 11 points.

Balance Abound

Loyola enters last eight days of its regular season as one of only two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference teams (Rider) to boast four players with double-figure scoring averages.

The Greyhounds are the only team with four players who have averages of 10.0 points per game or greater – Dylon Cormier (13.8), Erik Etherly (13.3), Robert Olson (11.5) and Justin Drummond (11.1).

Leading The Charge

Erik Etherly and Robert Olson have been the Greyhounds’ two most consistent scorers since the calendar flipped to 2012, averaging a combined 29.3 points per game since January 5, a span of 13 games.

Etherly has scored four more points than Olson during those 13 games, 178-174 and averages 14.8 points to Olson’s 14.5.

Combined, the duo is shooting 50.2-percent from the field (120-of-239).

Etherly also leads Loyola with a 7.7 rebounds per game mark during the last 13 games, while Olson is third on the team, averaging 4.2.

Tops In Conference Play, Too

Robert Olson and Erik Etherly have also paced the Greyhounds in their 16 MAAC games thus far as the top two scorers. Etherly again is slightly ahead of Olson, scoring-wise, tallying 216 (13.5 per game) points to Olson’s 212 (13.3).

Etherly has averaged 7.3 rebounds in 6 conference games, and Olson is third on the team with an average of 4.3.

MAAC Honors

Erik Etherly was named MAAC Player of the Week Monday for the second time this season. He averaged 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds against Iona and Fairfield.

Tying School Marks

Friday night’s win over Iona improved Loyola’s record to 19-5 overall and 12-2 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference this season.

The Greyhounds’ 19 wins tie the 2007-2008 team’s school Division I record for most victories, and the 12 wins also tie the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 squads for most wins in the league.

Loyola’s 19 wins are also tied for fourth-most all-time in school history.

Reitz Was Rockin’

The Greyhounds’ games in Reitz Arena against Rider and Iona were both been sellout crowds of 2,100. It marked the first time since Reitz opened in December 1984 that the gym has had back-to-back sellout crowds.

The crowd on February 3 against Rider was the building’s first sellout since November 14, 2008, against Mount St. Mary’s.

Offensive Onslaught

Loyola turned in season highs in points (87), field goals made (32) and field goals attempted (63) at home against Iona.

The Greyhounds’ 47 points in the first half were also the most they’ve scored in the first 20 minutes this season and were tied for the most in either half, matching the 47 scored on November 14 against Coppin State in the second half.

Eight Field Goals For Three

Three Greyhounds knocked down eight or more field goals versus the Gaels. Erik Etherly was 9-of-12 from the field, Justin Drummond 8-of-12, and Dylon Cormier 8-of-16.

It was the first time in the eight-year tenure of Jimmy Patsos as head coach that three or more players have made eight or more baskets in the same game.

Etherly, Cormier Top 20

For the second time this year, Erik Etherly and Dylon Cormier both topped the 20-point mark. The duo also accomplished the feat on November 17 at UMBC when Etherly scored a career-best 27, and Cormier finished with 20.

Against Iona, Etherly and Cormier’s combined 44 points were just over half of the Greyhounds’ 87.

Drummond Raises Efficiency

Justin Drummond had his best shooting night of the season versus Iona, making 8-of-12 shots (.667). Drummond, who shot .446 as a freshman last year, has seen his field-goal percentage dip to .387 this year.

His previous best outing of the season came on December 28 at Bucknell when he was 5-of-8 (.625) from the floor.

Defensive Presence

Jordan Latham did not play in the Greyhounds’ first meeting with Iona, an 11-point setback, but the sophomore forward made his presence known last Friday night.

He came off the bench and played 14 minutes and had four blocked shots. Three of his blocks were not just redirects, but true swats of the ball. Each of his blocked shots came against different Iona players and in different situations. Twice, Latham swatted shots by driving guards, and he twice denied post players.

The four blocks were a career-high for Latham.

R.J.’s Assists Equal Success

R.J. Williams recorded five assists in the win over Iona, the fourth time this year he’s dished out five or more. The Greyhounds are 7-0 this season in games that Williams has four or more helpers.

As a team, the Greyhounds are 4-0 this year when recorded 15 or more assists, like they did Friday night.

Etherly’s Last Twelve

Erik Etherly continued his solid play of late with 22 points against Iona and 17 versus Fairfield last weekend. The game against the Stags marked the seventh straight game Etherly has scored 15 or more, helping him to a 12-game scoring average of 15.1 points, best on the team during that stretch.

Etherly also has averaged 7.6 rebounds, just above his season average, during the stretch that dates back to the Greyhounds’ first meeting with Canisius on January 7.

During the stretch, Etherly has scored in double figures 10 times – he finished with nine at Iona – and he has scored 15 or more eight times.

Fastest To 19

Loyola’s win over Iona was the Greyhounds’ 19th of the season, marking their fastest path to 19 victories since joining Division I for the 1981-1982 season. The Greyhounds’ arrival at 19 wins after just 24 games came by a wide margin over the previous best.

The 2007-2008 squad, set the previous standard, reaching 19 wins in 30 games, six more than this year’s team.

Good MAAC Start

With wins in 12 of its first 16 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games this season, Loyola is off to its best start in league play since joining the league in 1989-1990. The Greyhounds’ previous best start as 11-5 in 2007-2008.

Six Under Sixty

For the first time in its NCAA Division I history (since 1981-1982), Loyola held six consecutive opponents to fewer than 60 points.

During the span, all Loyola victories, the Greyhounds have held Siena, Saint Peter’s (twice), Niagara, Canisius and Rider to an average of 53.2 points per game.

The Greyhounds previously had held three teams to sub-60 performances just once since joining Division I, and that came during 1981-1982, their first season at this level.

The last time a Loyola team held six-straight teams under 60, regardless of division, came in January-February 1977 when it held six teams in a row – Southampton, Saint Peter’s, Randolph-Macon, Mount St. Mary’s, Baltimore and Philadelphia Textile – to 59 or fewer. The Greyhounds, however, were just 3-3 in that stretch.

During The Six

Loyola’s success during the last six games is reflected in several statistics. Opponents are shooting .387, .046 lower than the season average of .433. Also, Loyola held foes to .241 from 3-point range, more than 10 points lower than the season mark of .350.

Following the Greyhounds’ game at Iona on January 15, Loyola was ranked 265th in field-goal percentage defense (.449), 325th in 3-point defense (.389), and 163rd in scoring defense (66.2).

The last six games have moved the Greyhounds to 193rd in field goal percentage defense (.443), 215th in 3-point defense (.350) and 71st in scoring defense (62.8).

Olson’s January, Continued

After a stretch of not scoring in double figures for the last three games of December and the first two in January, Robert Olson was the Greyhounds’ leading scorer during the first month of the new calendar year, averaging 13.8.

In Loyola’s last 12 games, a stretch in which the Greyhounds are 9-3, Olson has averaged a team-best 14.2 points per game, second-most on the team.

Overall this season, Olson is shooting 44.3-percent from 3-point range, and his 54 threes made this season are 14th in school single-season history. His 3-point field goal percentage currently stands third in school single-season history.

Olson has made 126 threes in his career, good for sixth-best all-time at Loyola, passing Gerald Brown (2006-2008) in the game against Fairfield.

Something Had To Give

Entering last Friday night’s game against Rider, Loyola had held four consecutive opponents to 57 or fewer points, while the Broncs were averaging 87.5 points in their previous three games.

Loyola’s defense prevailed in the contest, holding Rider to 12 points in the first half and just 46 overall. It was the Broncs’ lowest scoring game since February 2008 when Fairfield held them to 40.

Almost 20 Years

Rider’s 46 points were the fewest Loyola has allowed since the Greyhounds defeated Niagara, 68-45, on February 21, 1992, a stretch of 521 games.

Loyola has now held opponents to 49 or fewer points eight times since joining NCAA Division I in 1981-1982. The Greyhounds did it twice each in 1981-1982, 1984-1985 and 1991-1992 and once in 1983-1984.

Bracketbuster Opponent Named

Loyola learned Monday that it will host Boston University of the America East Conference in its sixth appearance in the Sears’ Bracketbuster Event. The Greyhounds and Terriers will play Sunday, February 19, at 12 noon in Reitz Arena.

Tied For Third In Road Wins

As of the beginning of the week, Loyola’s 10 road wins had them tied for third in all of NCAA Division I for victories away from its home court.

Cleveland State and Wagner lead the way with 11 while Loyola is tied with Harvard, Murray State, Iona and Robert Morris.

Walker Moves Into Second

Shane Walker blocked two Fairfield shots in the first three minutes of the game, and he then swatted a Maurice Barrow layup with 13:58 on the clock, tying him for second all-time at Loyola in blocked shots.

With five blocks against Canisius, Walker now has 124 blocks in his career and is all alone in second place. Brian Carroll (1997-2001) holds the school record with 213.

Thievery

Loyola caused 20 Siena turnovers, and the Greyhounds were credited with 19 steals. R.J. Williams led the way with a career-high five, while Erik Etherly, Dylon Cormier and Robert Olson each had three.

The 19 steals are the second-most in school history, one more than the Greyhounds posted in a November 29, 1997, game at Kent State. It is also the most Loyola has recorded against a Division I opponent. The school single-game record of 20 came on February 28, 1996, when the team closed the regular-season against St. Mary’s (Md.).

Running Away

Runs have been a big part of the Greyhounds’ success this year. Here is a look at some runs of note:

Century Mark

Head Coach Jimmy Patsos became the third coach in Loyola history to win 100 games when the Greyhounds defeated UMBC, 73-63, on the road. Patsos, who is in his eighth season, took over a team that finished 1-27 during the 2002-2003 season. He won his 100th game in his 215th career game.

Last season, Patsos moved into third-place all time at Loyola in victories, trailing only Lefty Reitz (349 wins, 1937-44, 1945-61) and Nap Doherty (165, 1961-74).

Two Of A Kind

Although unofficial, research shows that Jimmy Patsos is one of only two coaches in the last 20 years to take a team that won just one game the year prior to his arrival.

Brigham Young finished the 1996-1997 season with a 1-25 record. Steve Cleveland took over the following season and tallied 138 wins until his departure for Fresno State after the 2004-2005 season.

Men’s & Women’s Coaches With 100

Loyola University Maryland is one of just 26 mid-major schools that has men’s and women’s basketball coaches with 100 or more victories at their current school after Greyhound women’s coach Joe Logan got his 100th on December 18 in a win at George Washington.

Loyola is the only school in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to have accomplished the feat, and it is one of only five institutions at which the coaches have both won 100 or more games in 10 or fewer seasons.

Getting To The Line

As a team, Loyola went to the free-throw line 46 times at UMBC, making 31. The 46 attempts are the sixth-most all-time and most since the 2004-2005 squad attempted 53 on December 5, 2004, against Niagara.

Loyola’s 31 free throws made rank 11th on the school single-game chart and were the most since making 32 on January 14, 2009, versus NJIT.

Although his shot was not falling at UMBC, Dylon Cormier still found ways to be productive on the offensive end of the floor. The sophomore guard was just 2-of-9 from the field, but he went to the free-throw line 17 times, making 15, and finished with 20 points.

Cormier’s 15 free throws made are tied for sixth in Loyola single-game history, matching the total made by Mike Powell at Saint Peter’s on December 6, 1997, and Donovan Thomas against Marist on February 23, 2003. The 15 makes were the most by a Loyola player since Jamal Barney set the school record with 18 on January 14, 2009, against NJIT. His 17 attempts rank tied for sixth all-time.

Baltimore Bred And More From Nearby

Since taking over as head coach in 2004, Jimmy Patsos has put an emphasis on recruiting locally, and it has never shown as much as on this year’s roster. Three players – sophomore guard Dylon Cormier (Cardinal Gibbons), sophomore forward Jordan Latham (City) and freshman guard R.J. Williams (St. Frances) are products of schools within the city limits.

Six more players played in high school within 50 miles of Loyola, as the crow flies (thanks daftlogic.com): Shane Walker & Tyler Hubbard, Montrose Christian, 32.6 miles; Robert Olson, Georgetown Prep, 33.9; Justin Drummond, Riverdale Baptist, 33.9; Anthony Winbush, T.C. Williams, 43.7; and Erik Etherly, Annandale, 47.9.

What’s Next

Loyola hits the road for its final two games of the 2011-2012 regular-season. The Greyhounds will play at Rider on Friday, February 24, in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Loyola then wraps up the regular-season at Manhattan on Sunday, February 26.

COLLEGE PARK, MD. – The No. 8 Maryland (0-0) men’s lacrosse team opens its 2012 season with its first-ever meeting with Hartford. The Terps and the Hawks are slated for a 1 p.m. start at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 18.

· This marks the first time since 2002-03 that the Terps have opened two consecutive seasons at home.

· Maryland is coming off of a 2011 season that saw the Terps win their first ACC crown since 2005 and make their first run to the NCAA tournament championship game since 1998. This season the Terrapins return five starters, but Coach John Tillman’s squad will feature an entirely new close defense because the 2011 trio all graduated. The attack will feature two new starters as well with junior Owen Blye the only returning starter. Five of the Terps’ top six midfielders from last year return. Sophomore Niko Amato returns as the starter in cage, while sophomore All-America face-off man Curtis Holmes is also back.

· Hartford returns nearly all of its offensive production from its 2011 squad that captured the program’s first-ever America East title and its first-ever bid into the NCAA tournament. The Hawks are led by attackmen Carter Bender (35-18=53), Ryan Compitello (22-27=49) and Aidan Genik (23-10-33). Senior Scott Bement, a two-time all-league goalie, anchors the Hawks’ defense after posting a 9.38 goals-against average and a .536 save percentage last season.

Event Media:
In addition to being streamed live on TerpsTV Premium, the game can also be heard on WMUCsports.com. Gametracker will also be available for the game.

The Count Down
10 … Since 2002 Maryland has won 82 of the 89 games in which the Terps have scored 10 or more goals for a .921 winning percentage.

9 … The Terps have the second longest streak of NCAA tournament appearances, making it into the field for nine consecutive seasons.

8 … Maryland is ranked eighth in the preseason Inside Lacrosse media poll.

7 … Maryland has not allowed an opponent to score more than seven goals in a season opener in the past 18 seasons.

6 … Six Terps were preseason All-Americans, according to Inside Lacrosse’s Face-Off Yearbook.

5 … Five returning Terps started at least 12 games last season.

4 … The Hartford game is the first of four that will be broadcast on TerpsTV Premium this season.

3 … Maryland returns three of its top five scorers from last season.

2 … Hartford is one of two first-time opponents on the Terps’ 2012 schedule (Marist is the other).

1 … Mike Chanenchuk is the first non-attackman to wear the No. 1 jersey since 1993.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the college lacrosse season is just getting under way across the country, The Tewaaraton Award is pleased to announce the 2012 Men’s and Women’s Watch Lists. The lists include the top players across all three divisions of collegiate lacrosse and highlight the early contenders for the 2012 Tewaaraton Award.

This year’s list has 64 schools represented, which is a record high. “We are particularly excited with the number of schools represented in this year’s Watch List, which is a strong indication of the growth of the sport and the excitement that the Award creates throughout the lacrosse world” said Jeff Harvey, Chairman of the Tewaaraton Award.

The Selection Committees are made up of top collegiate coaches and are appointed each year by the Tewaaraton Award. “Our selection committees have a passion for this Award and these Watch List players should know that this is a distinction that only the best coaches could provide,” said Sarah Aschenbach, Executive Director of the Tewaaraton Award.

The Selection Committees will make additions to these lists as the season progresses and athletes earn a spot along side these elite players. In late April, both lists will be narrowed to 25 and these men and women will earn the distinction of Tewaaarton Nominees. In mid-May, the 5 Finalists in each category will be announced. These finalists will be invited to the Tewaaraton Award Ceremony, which will take place on May 31st, at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC.

For information on the Award and to purchase tickets to the event, go to www.tewaaraton.com.

About The Tewaaraton Award

The Tewaaraton Award was formally established in August of 2000 with the inaugural presentation taking place at The University Club of Washington DC in June of 2001. The Tewaaraton Trophy symbolizes lacrosse’s centuries-old roots in Native American heritage. Tradition dictates that each year the Tewaaraton Award celebrates one of the six tribal nations of the Iroquois Confederacy: the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and the Tuscarora. To honor the heritage of the sport, the Award presents two annual scholarships to students of American Indian decent. The Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the pre-eminent lacrosse award honoring the nation’s top male and female collegiate lacrosse players and is endorsed by the Mohawk Nation Council of Elders and US Lacrosse.

About The University Club of the City of Washington, DC

Established in 1904 during the tenure of William Howard Taft, the Club’s first President and later the President of the United States, the membership is a diverse mix of professional, business and government leaders. The Club’s mission is to provide members and their families: congenial social gatherings, good fellowship, excellent dining, guest rooms, athletics, a rich variety of cultural, international and educational programs activities, and other services to enhance health, wellness, intellectual growth and fitness within the Club’s superbly maintained and expanded historic Clubhouse.

Men’s 2012 Watch List

Sean Aaron, Goalie – Union College
Brent Adams, Midfield – Fairfield University
Andrew Barton, Midfield – Providence College
Pierce Bassett, Goalie – Johns Hopkins University
Peter Baum, Midfield – Colgate University
Carter Bender, Attack – University of Hartford
Anthony Biscardi, Midfield – University of Massachusetts
Ian Braddish, Midfield – Hofstra University
Sam Bradman, Midfield – Salisbury University
Colin Briggs, Midfield – University of Virginia
Fergus Campbell, Goalie – Dartmouth College
Charlie Cipriano, Goalie – Fairfield University
Travis Comeau, Attack – Georgetown University
CJ Costabile, Long Stick Midfield – Duke University
Kevin Cunningham, Attack – Villanova University
Bobby Dattilo, Midfield/Face Off – Hobart College
Nikk Davis, Midfield – United States Naval Academy
Tim Desko, Attack – Syracuse University
Daniel DiMaria, Defense/LSM – Harvard University
Billy Eisenreich, Attack – Bucknell University
Dante Fantoni, Attack – Lehigh University
Kyle Feeney, Goalie – Bucknell University
Tyler Fiorito, Goalie – Princeton University
Nick Galasso, Attack – University of North Carolina
Matt Gibson, Attack – Yale University
Rob Grimm, Attack – University of Maryland Baltimore County
Tim Henderson, Defense – United States Military Academy
Curtis Holmes, Midfield – University of Maryland
Shayne Jackson, Attack – Limestone College
Sam Jones, Attack – United States Naval Academy
Grant Kaleikau, Attack – University of Delaware
Austin Kaut, Goalie – Penn State University
Jeff Keating, Attack – Roanoke College
Micah Keller, Attack – Hampden-Sydney College
John Kemp, Goalie – University of Notre Dame
Roy Lang, Midfield – Cornell University
Chris LaPierre, Midfield – University of Virginia
Joe Lisicky, Defense – Lynchburg College
Jeffrey Lowman, Goalie – St. John’s University
Matt Mackrides, Attack – Penn State University
Greg Mahony, Midfield – Yale University
Mark Manos, Goalie – Drexel University
JoJo Marasco, Midfield/Attack – Syracuse University
Kiel Matisz, Midfield – Robert Morris University
Mark Matthews, Attack – University of Denver
Joel Matthews, Attack – University of Detroit Mercy
Jack McBride, Attack/Midfield – University of North Carolina
Kevin McCormick, Midfield – Tufts University
Brian Megill, Defense – Syracuse University
Bryan Neufeld, Attack – Siena College
Chris Nourse, Defense – Georgetown University
Robert Pannell, Attack – Cornell University
Mason Poli, Defense – Bryant University
John Ranagan, Midfield – Johns Hopkins University
Joe Resetarits, Attack – University at Albany
Connor Rice, Attack – Marist College
Jack Rice, Attack – Villanova University
Stephen Robarge, Midfield/Face Off – Virginia Military Institute
Dan Savage, Midfield – University of Pennsylvania
Michael Sawyer, Attack – Loyola University
Rob Schlesinger, Midfield – Brown University
Tom Schreiber, Midfield – Princeton University
Logan Schuss, Attack – Ohio State University
Steve Serling, Midfield – Hofstra University
Ryan Snyder, Face Off – Lehigh University
Steele Stanwick, Attack – University of Virginia
Garrett Thul, Attack – United States Military Academy
Jeff Tundo, Attack – Stony Brook University
Justin Turri, Midfield – Duke University
Kevin Vaughan, Midfield – Harvard University
Joe Vitale, Midfield – Adelphi University
Ben Waldron, Long Stick Midfield – Binghamton University
Chad Wiedmaier, Defense – Princeton University

Game Data

The Greyhounds play their first of three remaining Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season games, all on the road, on Wednesday night in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., against Marist College at 7 p.m.

Series History

Wednesday will mark the 51st time that Marist and Loyola have met on the basketball hardwood. The Red Foxes hold a 27-23 advantage in the previous 50 meetings, but Loyola has won the last seven in the series and eight of the last nine.

The Greyhounds defeated Marist, 76-63, in the teams’ MAAC season-opener on December 1, 2011. Five Loyola players scored in double figures, led Dylon Cormier’s 15 points. Erik Etherly had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and R.J. Williams dished out six assists.

Last season, the Greyhounds swept the season series, winning 83-67 in Reitz Arena and 75-69 in Poughkeepsie.

Balance Abound

Loyola enters the penultimate week of its regular season as one of only two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference teams (Rider) to boast four players with double-figure scoring averages.

The Greyhounds are the only team with four players who have averages of 11.2 or greater – Dylon Cormier (14.0), Erik Etherly (13.6), Robert Olson (11.9) and Justin Drummond (11.2).

Leading The Charge

Erik Etherly and Robert Olson have been the Greyhounds’ two most consistent scorers since the calendar flipped to 2012, averaging a combined 29.9 points per game since January 5, a span of 12 games.

Etherly has scored one more point than Olson during those 12 games, 180-179 and averages 15.0 points to Olson’s 14.9.

Combined, the duo is shooting 52.6-percent from the field (120-of-228) and 73.6 (81-of-110) from the free-throw line.

Etherly also leads Loyola with a 7.8 rebounds per game mark during the last 12 games, while Olson is third on the team, averaging 3.9.

Tops In Conference Play, Too

Robert Olson and Erik Etherly have also paced the Greyhounds in their 15 MAAC games thus far as the top two scorers. Etherly again is slightly ahead of Olson, scoring-wise, tallying 210 (14.0 per game) points to Olson’s 208 (13.9).

Etherly has averaged 7.4 rebounds in 15 conference games, and Olson is third on the team with an average of 4.2.

MAAC Honors

Erik Etherly was named MAAC Player of the Week Monday for the second time this season. He averaged 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds against Iona and Fairfield.

Tying School Marks

Friday night’s win over Iona improved Loyola’s record to 19-5 overall and 12-2 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference this season.

The Greyhounds’ 19 wins tie the 2007-2008 team’s school Division I record for most victories, and the 12 wins also tie the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 squads for most wins in the league.

Loyola’s 19 wins are also tied for fourth-most all-time in school history.

Through 25

Despite Sunday’s loss, Loyola’s 19-6 start through its first 25 games of the season ranks is tied for the best start in that many games in school history, matching the record the 1947-1948 “Lefty” Reitz-coached team put forth.

Reitz Was Rockin’

The Greyhounds’ games in Reitz Arena against Rider and Iona were both been sellout crowds of 2,100. It marked the first time since Reitz opened in December 1984 that the gym has had back-to-back sellout crowds.

The crowd on February 3 against Rider was the building’s first sellout since November 14, 2008, against Mount St. Mary’s.

Offensive Onslaught

Loyola turned in season highs in points (87), field goals made (32) and field goals attempted (63) on Friday night against Iona.

The Greyhounds’ 47 points in the first half were also the most they’ve scored in the first 20 minutes this season and were tied for the most in either half, matching the 47 scored on November 14 against Coppin State in the second half.

Eight Field Goals For Three

Three Greyhounds knocked down eight or more field goals Friday night against Iona. Erik Etherly was 9-of-12 from the field, Justin Drummond 8-of-12, and Dylon Cormier 8-of-16.

It was the first time in the eight-year tenure of Jimmy Patsos as head coach that three or more players have made eight or more baskets in the same game.

Etherly, Cormier Top 20

For the second time this year, Erik Etherly and Dylon Cormier both topped the 20-point mark. The duo also accomplished the feat on November 17 at UMBC when Etherly scored a career-best 27, and Cormier  finished with 20.

On Friday night, Etherly and Cormier’s combined 44 points were just over half of the Greyhounds’ 87.

Drummond Raises Efficiency

Justin Drummond had his best shooting night of the season Friday versus Iona, making 8-of-12 shots (.667). Drummond, who shot .446 as a freshman last year, has seen his field-goal percentage dip to .387 this year.

His previous best outing of the season came on December 28 at Bucknell when he was 5-of-8 (.625) from the floor.

Strong Inside

Erik Etherly’s performance in the paint on Friday night was a key reason the Greyhounds defeated the Gaels after falling by 11 in New Rochelle, N.Y., to the same team last month.

In the January 15 loss, Etherly scored nine points and had seven rebounds, but Friday night he finished with a team-high 22 points and 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season. He also had three assists, two blocked shots and a steal.

Defensive Presence

Jordan Latham did not play in the Greyhounds’ first meeting with Iona, an 11-point setback, but the sophomore forward made his presence known Friday night.

He came off the bench and played 14 minutes and had four blocked shots. Three of his blocks were not just redirects, but true swats of the ball. Each of his blocked shots came against different Iona players and in different situations. Twice, Latham swatted shots by driving guards, and he twice denied post players.

The four blocks were a career-high for Latham.

R.J.’s Assists Equal Success

R.J. Williams recorded five assists in the win Friday night over Iona, the fourth time this year he’s dished out five or more. The Greyhounds are 7-0 this season in games that Williams has four or more helpers.

As a team, the Greyhounds are 4-0 this year when recorded 15 or more assists, like they did Friday night.

Etherly’s Last Eleven

Erik Etherly continued his solid play of late with 22 points against Iona and 17 versus Fairfield last weekend. The game against the Stags marked the seventh straight game Etherly has scored 15 or more, raising his 11-game scoring average to 15.6 points, best on the team during that stretch.

Etherly also has averaged 7.9 rebounds, just above his season average, during the stretch that dates back to the Greyhounds’ first meeting with Canisius on January 7.

During the stretch, Etherly has scored in double figures 10 times – he finished with nine at Iona – and he has scored 15 or more eight times.

Fastest To 19

Loyola’s win over Iona was the Greyhounds’ 19th of the season, marking their fastest path to 19 victories since joining Division I for the 1981-1982 season. The Greyhounds’ arrival at 19 wins after just 24 games came by a wide margin over the previous best.

The 2007-2008 squad, set the previous standard, reaching 19 wins in 30 games, six more than this year’s team.

Good MAAC Start

With wins in 12 of its first 15 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games this season, Loyola is off to its best start in league play since joining the league in 1989-1990. The Greyhounds’ previous best starts were 10-5 in 2007-2008.

Last Time Out

Loyola outscored Iona 36-20 in the last 13:40 of the first half to built a 17-point advantage at the break that it would extend to 25 on two second-half occasions.

Iona steadily chipped away at the Greyhounds’ advantage, pulling to within four with less than 30 seconds to play, but Robert Olson and Erik Etherly both hit 2-of-2 from the line in the last 21 ticks of the clock to secure an 87-81 win for Loyola.

Etherly finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Dylon Cormier tallied 22 points, and Justin Drummond had 17.

Six Under Sixty

For the first time in its NCAA Division I history (since 1981-1982), Loyola held six consecutive opponents to fewer than 60 points.

During the span, all Loyola victories, the Greyhounds have held Siena, Saint Peter’s (twice), Niagara, Canisius and Rider to an average of 53.2 points per game.

The Greyhounds previously had held three teams to sub-60 performances just once since joining Division I, and that came during 1981-1982, their first season at this level.

The last time a Loyola team held six-straight teams under 60, regardless of division, came in January-February 1977 when it held six teams in a row – Southampton, Saint Peter’s, Randolph-Macon, Mount St. Mary’s, Baltimore and Philadelphia Textile – to 59 or fewer. The Greyhounds, however, were just 3-3 in that stretch.

During The Six

Loyola’s success during the last six games is reflected in several statistics. Opponents are shooting .387, .046 lower than the season average of .433. Also, Loyola held foes to .241 from 3-point range, more than 10 points lower than the season mark of .350.

Following the Greyhounds’ game at Iona on January 15, Loyola was ranked 265th in field-goal percentage defense (.449), 325th in 3-point defense (.389), and 163rd in scoring defense (66.2).

The last six games have moved the Greyhounds to 193rd in field goal percentage defense (.443), 215th in 3-point defense (.350) and 71st in scoring defense (62.8).

Olson’s January, Continued

After a stretch of not scoring in double figures for the last three games of December and the first two in January, Robert Olson was the Greyhounds’ leading scorer during the first month of the new calendar year, averaging 13.8. He continued his stretch of scoring in February, averaging 15.8 points in four games.

In Loyola’s last 11 games, a stretch in which the Greyhounds are 9-2, Olson has averaged a team-best 15.5 points per game, second-most on the team.

During those 11 games, his low total is 11, coming at Niagara. He is shooting .518 from the field (55-of-106) and a more impressive .530 (35-of-66) from 3-point range.

Olson has made at least two 3-pointers in each of the 11 games and has three or more in all but three.

Overall this season, Olson is shooting 45.8-percent from 3-point range, and his 54 threes made this season are 14th in school single-season history. His 3-point field goal percentage currently stands second in school single-season history.

Olson has made 126 threes in his career, good for sixth-best all-time at Loyola, passing Gerald Brown (2006-2008) in the game against Fairfield.

Senior Stepping Up

Shane Walker’s play over the Greyhounds’ wins against Canisius, Rider and Saint Peter’s was more in line with his season averages after tailing off some during the month of January.

Walker averaged 12.7 points and 9.3 rebounds against Canisius, Rider and Saint Peter’s, a stretch in which he also had eight assists, eight blocked shots and six steals.

In January’s first eight games, every contest that month except for the date at Canisius, Walker scored just 5.4 points per game, shooting 26.5-percent from the field and 23.5-percent from 3-point range. His rebounds per game also dipped to 5.1.

Over the last three, however, Walker has shot 48.6-percent from the field and a modest 33.3-percent from 3-point range. He had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds at Canisius, a season-high 12 boards versus Rider, and then a 14-point, 5-steal performance at Saint Peter’s.

Something Had To Give

Entering last Friday night’s game against Rider, Loyola had held four consecutive opponents to 57 or fewer points, while the Broncs were averaging 87.5 points in their previous three games.

Loyola’s defense prevailed in the contest, holding Rider to 12 points in the first half and just 46 overall. It was the Broncs’ lowest scoring game since February 2008 when Fairfield held them to 40.

Almost 20 Years

Rider’s 46 points were the fewest Loyola has allowed since the Greyhounds defeated Niagara, 68-45, on February 21, 1992, a stretch of 521 games.

Loyola has now held opponents to 49 or fewer points eight times since joining NCAA Division I in 1981-1982. The Greyhounds did it twice each in 1981-1982, 1984-1985 and 1991-1992 and once in 1983-1984.

Bracketbuster Opponent Named

Loyola learned Monday that it will host Boston University of the America East Conference in its sixth appearance in the Sears’ Bracketbuster Event. The Greyhounds and Terriers will play Sunday, February 19, at 12 noon in Reitz Arena.

Tied For Third In Road Wins

As of the beginning of the week, Loyola’s 10 road wins had them tied for third in all of NCAA Division I for victories away from its home court.

Cleveland State and Wagner lead the way with 11 while Loyola is tied with Harvard, Murray State, Iona and Robert Morris.

Olson Scores In Bunches

Robert Olson scored seven points in a 23-second stretch versus Fairfield, going on a 7-0 run by himself. Fairfield led 62-55 when Olson pulled up for an 18-foot jumper with 1:42 left in regulation. He then hit a shot with his foot on the 3-point line 15 ticks later to make it a 3-point Stags lead. The junior guard tied the game at 62-62 with 1:19 on the clock with a three from the right side.

Olson finished with 15 points, 13 coming in the second half. Earlier in the stanza, an Olson three at the 14:38 mark cut Fairfield’s largest lead of 15 to 12, and he then knocked one down with 10:04 on the clock.

It was the second game in a row Olson has scored seven-straight points in the second half. He went on a personal 7-0 run against Canisius to move Loyola’s lead back to 11 after the Golden Griffins cut it to four.

The second half has often been a big one for Olson. Last year, he scored nine points in 83 seconds to help defeat Morgan State, and against Iona in Baltimore, Olson made a three pointer with seven ticks of the clock left to tie and send the game to overtime. He then scored the game’s last four points to secure the victory.

Walker Moves Into Second

Shane Walker blocked two Fairfield shots in the first three minutes of the game, and he then swatted a Maurice Barrow layup with 13:58 on the clock, tying him for second all-time at Loyola in blocked shots.

With five blocks against Canisius, Walker now has 124 blocks in his career and is all alone in second place. Brian Carroll (1997-2001) holds the school record with 213.

Everyone On The Offensive Boards

Loyola leads the MAAC in offensive rebounding as a team, averaging 13.8, more than a full rebound more per game that second-place Canisius (12.7).

Despite the team ranking, no Greyhounds player is higher than seventh in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Erik Etherly is tied for sixth with 2.6, while Justin Drummond is 13th with 2.1.

Thievery

Loyola caused 20 Siena turnovers, and the Greyhounds were credited with 19 steals. R.J. Williams led the way with a career-high five, while Erik Etherly, Dylon Cormier and Robert Olson each had three.

The 19 steals are the second-most in school history, one more than the Greyhounds posted in a November 29, 1997, game at Kent State. It is also the most Loyola has recorded against a Division I opponent. The school single-game record of 20 came on February 28, 1996, when the team closed the regular-season against St. Mary’s (Md.).

Running Away

Runs have been a big part of the Greyhounds’ success this year. Here is a look at some runs of note:

Century Mark

Head Coach Jimmy Patsos became the third coach in Loyola history to win 100 games when the Greyhounds defeated UMBC, 73-63, on the road. Patsos, who is in his eighth season, took over a team that finished 1-27 during the 2002-2003 season. He won his 100th game in his 215th career game.

Last season, Patsos moved into third-place all time at Loyola in victories, trailing only Lefty Reitz (349 wins, 1937-44, 1945-61) and Nap Doherty (165, 1961-74).

Two Of A Kind

Although unofficial, research shows that Jimmy Patsos is one of only two coaches in the last 20 years to take a team that won just one game the year prior to his arrival.

Brigham Young finished the 1996-1997 season with a 1-25 record. Steve Cleveland took over the following season and tallied 138 wins until his departure for Fresno State after the 2004-2005 season.

Men’s & Women’s Coaches With 100

Loyola University Maryland is one of just 26 mid-major schools that has men’s and women’s basketball coaches with 100 or more victories at their current school after Greyhound women’s coach Joe Logan got his 100th on December 18 in a win at George Washington.

Loyola is the only school in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to have accomplished the feat, and it is one of only five institutions at which the coaches have both won 100 or more games in 10 or fewer seasons.

Getting To The Line

As a team, Loyola went to the free-throw line 46 times at UMBC, making 31. The 46 attempts are the sixth-most all-time and most since the 2004-2005 squad attempted 53 on December 5, 2004, against Niagara.

Loyola’s 31 free throws made rank 11th on the school single-game chart and were the most since making 32 on January 14, 2009, versus NJIT.

Although his shot was not falling at UMBC, Dylon Cormier still found ways to be productive on the offensive end of the floor. The sophomore guard was just 2-of-9 from the field, but he went to the free-throw line 17 times, making 15, and finished with 20 points.

Cormier’s 15 free throws made are tied for sixth in Loyola single-game history, matching the total made by Mike Powell at Saint Peter’s on December 6, 1997, and Donovan Thomas against Marist on February 23, 2003. The 15 makes were the most by a Loyola player since Jamal Barney set the school record with 18 on January 14, 2009, against NJIT. His 17 attempts rank tied for sixth all-time.

Baltimore Bred And More From Nearby

Since taking over as head coach in 2004, Jimmy Patsos has put an emphasis on recruiting locally, and it has never shown as much as on this year’s roster. Three players – sophomore guard Dylon Cormier (Cardinal Gibbons), sophomore forward Jordan Latham (City) and freshman guard R.J. Williams (St. Frances) are products of schools within the city limits.

Six more players played in high school within 50 miles of Loyola, as the crow flies (thanks daftlogic.com): Shane Walker & Tyler Hubbard, Montrose Christian, 32.6 miles; Robert Olson, Georgetown Prep, 33.9; Justin Drummond, Riverdale Baptist, 33.9; Anthony Winbush, T.C. Williams, 43.7; and Erik Etherly, Annandale, 47.9.

What’s Next

Loyola plays its final non-conference game of the 2011-2012 regular season when it hosts Boston University in the Sears’ Bracketbuster event. The Greyhounds and Terriers will take the court at Reitz Arena on Sunday, February 19, at 12 noon. Loyola will also honor its seniors following the contest.

Etherly Earns MAAC Player Of The Week Honor

EDISON, N.J. – Loyola Univeristy Maryland junior forward Erik Etherly (Alexandria, Va./Annandale H.S.) was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week today, the conference office announced.

Etherly, who earned the honor for the second time thisseason, averaged 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds against Iona and Fairfield. He tied for team-high honors in scoring and led the Greyhounds in rebounding in both games.

On Friday night, Etherly went 9-of-12 from the field to help the Greyhounds defeat Iona, 87-81. Etherly finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. He also totaled three assists and two blocked shots against the Gaels.

He scored eight of his 22 in a 6-minute, 18-second stretch to start the second half that saw Loyola extend its lead to 25 points with 13:42 to play in the game. His 22-point effort marked the second time in his career that he has scored 20 or more points, the first coming earlier this season at UMBC.

Etherly finished Sunday’s game against Fairfield with 17 points and nine rebounds. The Alexandria, Va., native went 9-of-13 from the free-throw line versus the Stags, tying his career-best for free throws made.

The award is the second of the season for Etherly and the third overall for Loyola players. He also won the first award of January after a strong performance in the Greyhounds’ win at Bucknell.

Etherly and the Greyhounds return to the court on Wednesday when they take on Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., at 7 p.m.

- loyolagreyhounds.com -

Game Data

Loyola University Maryland wraps up a weekend set of games at Reitz Arena on Sunday, February 12, when it hosts Fairfield University at 4 o’clock.

Watch On The World-Wide-Web

Loyola and Fairfield take the court in a game that will be broadcast worldwide on the internet through ESPN3 as the MAAC National Game of the Week.

The game is Loyola’s third on ESPN3 this season following dates in November and December at Wake Forest and current No. 1 Kentucky, respectively.

Over The Airwaves

The game’s audio will be streamed live on LoyolaGreyhounds.com.

Series History

Loyola and Fairfield will meet for the 52nd time on the hardwood Sunday afternoon with the Stags entering the game with a 35-16 advantage in the previous meetings.

The Greyhounds won the most recent meeting between the two, 66-63, on January 13, at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn.

Loyola rallied form a 15-point halftime deficit in the second half to win the first meeting this year. The Greyhounds trailed by seven with 2:07 left when Robert Olson scored seven in a row to tie the game with 1:19 to go. Five of his points came as the direct result of Dylon Cormier steals in the backcourt.

Erik Etherly led all players with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Olson finished with 15, Cormier added 12, and Justin Drummond scored 10. Rakim Sanders had 17 for Fairfield.

Jesuit Basketball Spotlight

Sunday’s game against Fairfield is the sixth of six games the Greyhounds play this season as part of the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight.

As one of 28 Jesuit Catholic universities around the nation, Loyola is a proud participant in the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight again this season. The Greyhounds are 5-0 in Jesuit Basketball Spotlight games this season with wins over Canisius (twice), Fairfield and Saint Peter’s (twice).

Tying School Marks

Friday night’s win over Iona improved Loyola’s record to 19-5 overall and 12-2 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference this season.

The Greyhounds’ 19 wins tie the 2007-2008 team’s school Division I record for most victories, and the 12 wins also tie the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 squads for most wins in the league.

Loyola’s 19 wins are also tied for fourth-most all-time in school history.

Through 24

Loyola’s 19-5 start through its first 14 games of the season ranks is tied for the best start in that many games in school history, matching the record the 1947-1948 “Lefty” Reitz-coached team put forth.

Reitz Is Rockin’

The Greyhounds’ last two games in Reitz Arena have both been sellout crowds of 2,100. It marks the first time since Reitz opened in December 1984 that the gym has had back-to-back sellout crowds.

The crowd on February 3 against Rider was the building’s first sellout since November 14, 2008, against Mount St. Mary’s.

Offensive Onslaught

Loyola turned in season highs in points (87), field goals made (32) and field goals attempted (63) on Friday night against Iona.

The Greyhounds’ 47 points in the first half were also the most they’ve scored in the first 20 minutes this season and were tied for the most in either half, matching the 47 scored on November 14 against Coppin State in the second half.

Eight Field Goals For Three

Three Greyhounds knocked down eight or more field goals Friday night against Iona. Erik Etherly was 9-of-12 from the field, Justin Drummond 8-of-12, and Dylon Cormier 8-of-16.

It was the first time in the eight-year tenure of Jimmy Patsos as head coach that three or more players have made eight or more baskets in the same game.

Etherly, Cormier Top 20

For the second time this year, Erik Etherly and Dylon Cormier both topped the 20-point mark. The duo also accomplished the feat on November 17 at UMBC when Etherly scored a career-best 27, and Cormier  finished with 20.

On Friday night, Etherly and Cormier’s combined 44 points were just over half of the Greyhounds’ 87.

Drummond Raises Efficiency

Justin Drummond had his best shooting night of the season Friday versus Iona, making 8-of-12 shots (.667). Drummond, who shot .446 as a freshman last year, has seen his field-goal percentage dip to .387 this year.

His previous best outing of the season came on December 28 at Bucknell when he was 5-of-8 (.625) from the floor.

Strong Inside

Erik Etherly’s performance in the paint on Friday night was a key reason the Greyhounds defeated the Gaels after falling by 11 in New Rochelle, N.Y., to the same team last month.

In the January 15 loss, Etherly scored nine points and had seven rebounds, but Friday night he finished with a team-high 22 points and 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season. He also had three assists, two blocked shots and a steal.

Defensive Presence

Jordan Latham did not play in the Greyhounds’ first meeting with Iona, an 11-point setback, but the sophomore forward made his presence known Friday night.

He came off the bench and played 14 minutes and had four blocked shots. Three of his blocks were not just redirects, but true swats of the ball. Each of his blocked shots came against different Iona players and in different situations. Twice, Latham swatted shots by driving guards, and he twice denied post players.

The four blocks were a career-high for Latham.

R.J.’s Assists Equal Success

R.J. Williams recorded five assists in the win Friday night over Iona, the fourth time this year he’s dished out five or more. The Greyhounds are 7-0 this season in games that Williams has four or more helpers.

As a team, the Greyhounds are 4-0 this year when recorded 15 or more assists, like they did Friday night.

Etherly’s Last Ten

Erik Etherly continued his solid play of late with 15 points against both Rider and Saint Peter’s, followed by 22 against Iona. The game against the Gaels marked the sixth straight game Etherly has scored 15 or more, raising his 10-game scoring average to 15.5 points, best on the team during that stretch.

Etherly also has averaged 7.8 rebounds, just above his season average, during the stretch that dates back to the Greyhounds’ first meeting with Canisius on January 7.

During the stretch, Etherly has scored in double figures nine times – he finished with nine at Iona – and he has scored 15 or more seven times.

Fastest To 19

Loyola’s win over Iona was the Greyhounds’ 19th of the season, marking their fastest path to 19 victories since joining Division I for the 1981-1982 season. The Greyhounds’ arrival at 19 wins after just 24 games came by a wide margin over the previous best.

The 2007-2008 squad, set the previous standard, reaching 19 wins in 30 games, six more than this year’s team.

Good MAAC Start

With wins in 11 of its first 13 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games this season, Loyola is off to its best start in league play since joining the league in 1989-1990. The Greyhounds’ previous best starts were 9-4 in both 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.

Last Time Out

Loyola outscored Iona 36-20 in the last 13:40 of the first half to built a 17-point advantage at the break that it would extend to 25 on two second-half occasions.

Iona steadily chipped away at the Greyhounds’ advantage, pulling to within four with less than 30 seconds to play, but Robert Olson and Erik Etherly both hit 2-of-2 from the line in the last 21 ticks of the clock to secure an 87-81 win for Loyola.

Etherly finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Dylon Cormier tallied 22 points, and Justin Drummond had 17.

Six Under Sixty

For the first time in its NCAA Division I history (since 1981-1982), Loyola held six consecutive opponents to fewer than 60 points.

During the span, all Loyola victories, the Greyhounds have held Siena, Saint Peter’s (twice), Niagara, Canisius and Rider to an average of 53.2 points per game.

The Greyhounds previously had held three teams to sub-60 performances just once since joining Division I, and that came during 1981-1982, their first season at this level.

The last time a Loyola team held six-straight teams under 60, regardless of division, came in January-February 1977 when it held six teams in a row – Southampton, Saint Peter’s, Randolph-Macon, Mount St. Mary’s, Baltimore and Philadelphia Textile – to 59 or fewer. The Greyhounds, however, were just 3-3 in that stretch.

During The Six

Loyola’s success during the last six games is reflected in several statistics. Opponents are shooting .387, .046 lower than the season average of .433. Also, Loyola has held foes to .241 from 3-point range, more than 10 points lower than the season mark of .350.

Following the Greyhounds’ game at Iona on January 15, Loyola was ranked 265th in field-goal percentage defense (.449), 325th in 3-point defense (.389), and 163rd in scoring defense (66.2).

The last six games have moved the Greyhounds to 193rd in field goal percentage defense (.443), 215th in 3-point defense (.350) and 71st in scoring defense (62.8).

Threes In The First

Robert Olson put on a shooting clinic in the first half of Sunday’s win at Saint Peter’s, making all four of his 3-point attempts and finishing the stanza with 14 points. While foul trouble limited him to nine second-half minutes, he finished with 19 points, two off his career-high, and he matched his season-high with five 3-pointers.

His only miss from behind the arc in the game came with 32 seconds left in the game. He fired a long three with the shot-clock expiring as Loyola was running out the clock.

Olson is now shooting 44.7-percent from 3-point range, and his 51 threes made this season are 14th in school single-season history. His 3-point field goal percentage currently stands third in school single-season history.

Olson has made 123 threes in his career, good for seventh-best all-time at Loyola. With two more, he will tie Gerald Brown (2006-2008) for sixth.

Olson’s January, Continued

After a stretch of not scoring in double figures for the last three games of December and the first two in January, Robert Olson was the Greyhounds’ leading scorer during the first month of the new calendar year, averaging 13.8. He continued his stretch of scoring with 14 against Rider, 19 at Saint Peter’s and 13 against Iona in February’s first three contests.

In Loyola’s last 10 games, a stretch in which the Greyhounds are 9-1, Olson has averaged a team-best 15.3 points per game, second-most on the team.

During those eight games, his low total is 11, coming at Niagara. He is shooting .520 from the field (51-of-98) and a more impressive .516 (32-of-62) from 3-point range.

Olson has made at least two 3-pointers in each of the 10 games and has three or more in all but three.

Senior Stepping Up

Shane Walker’s play over the Greyhounds’ wins against Canisius, Rider and Saint Peter’s was more in line with his season averages after tailing off some during the month of January.

Walker averaged 12.7 points and 9.3 rebounds against Canisius, Rider and Saint Peter’s, a stretch in which he also had eight assists, eight blocked shots and six steals.

In January’s first eight games, every contest that month except for the date at Canisius, Walker scored just 5.4 points per game, shooting 26.5-percent from the field and 23.5-percent from 3-point range. His rebounds per game also dipped to 5.1.

Over the last three, however, Walker has shot 48.6-percent from the field and a modest 33.3-percent from 3-point range. He had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds at Canisius, a season-high 12 boards versus Rider, and then a 14-point, 5-steal performance at Saint Peter’s.

Something Had To Give

Entering last Friday night’s game against Rider, Loyola had held four consecutive opponents to 57 or fewer points, while the Broncs were averaging 87.5 points in their previous three games.

Loyola’s defense prevailed in the contest, holding Rider to 12 points in the first half and just 46 overall. It was the Broncs’ lowest scoring game since February 2008 when Fairfield held them to 40.

Almost 20 Years

Rider’s 46 points were the fewest Loyola has allowed since the Greyhounds defeated Niagara, 68-45, on February 21, 1992, a stretch of 521 games.

Loyola has now held opponents to 49 or fewer points eight times since joining NCAA Division I in 1981-1982. The Greyhounds did it twice each in 1981-1982, 1984-1985 and 1991-1992 and once in 1983-1984.

Bracketbuster Opponent Named

Loyola learned Monday that it will host Boston University of the America East Conference in its sixth appearance in the Sears’ Bracketbuster Event. The Greyhounds and Terriers will play Sunday, February 19, at 12 noon in Reitz Arena.

Tied For Second In Road Wins

As of the beginning of the week, Loyola’s 10 road wins had them tied for second in all of NCAA Division I for victories away from its home court.

Cleveland State leads the way with 11, while the Greyhounds are tied with Murray State, Friday’s foe Iona and Wagner.

Olson Scores In Bunches

Robert Olson scored seven points in a 23-second stretch versus Fairfield, going on a 7-0 run by himself. Fairfield led 62-55 when Olson pulled up for an 18-foot jumper with 1:42 left in regulation. He then hit a shot with his foot on the 3-point line 15 ticks later to make it a 3-point Stags lead. The junior guard tied the game at 62-62 with 1:19 on the clock with a three from the right side.

Olson finished with 15 points, 13 coming in the second half. Earlier in the stanza, an Olson three at the 14:38 mark cut Fairfield’s largest lead of 15 to 12, and he then knocked one down with 10:04 on the clock.

It was the second game in a row Olson has scored seven-straight points in the second half. He went on a personal 7-0 run against Canisius to move Loyola’s lead back to 11 after the Golden Griffins cut it to four.

The second half has often been a big one for Olson. Last year, he scored nine points in 83 seconds to help defeat Morgan State, and against Iona in Baltimore, Olson made a three pointer with seven ticks of the clock left to tie and send the game to overtime. He then scored the game’s last four points to secure the victory.

Walker Moves Into Second

Shane Walker blocked two Fairfield shots in the first three minutes of the game, and he then swatted a Maurice Barrow layup with 13:58 on the clock, tying him for second all-time at Loyola in blocked shots.

With five blocks against Canisius, Walker now has 124 blocks in his career and is all alone in second place. Brian Carroll (1997-2001) holds the school record with 213.

Everyone On The Offensive Boards

Loyola leads the MAAC in offensive rebounding as a team, averaging 13.9, more than a full rebound more per game that second-place Canisius (12.8).

Despite the team ranking, no Greyhounds player is higher than seventh in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Erik Etherly is tied for sixth with 2.6, while Justin Drummond is 13th with 2.2, and Dylon Cormier is just behind, tied for 15th.

No other team in the MAAC has more than two players in the top 15 of the category.

Thievery

Loyola caused 20 Siena turnovers, and the Greyhounds were credited with 19 steals. R.J. Williams led the way with a career-high five, while Erik Etherly, Dylon Cormier and Robert Olson each had three.

The 19 steals are the second-most in school history, one more than the Greyhounds posted in a November 29, 1997, game at Kent State. It is also the most Loyola has recorded against a Division I opponent. The school single-game record of 20 came on February 28, 1996, when the team closed the regular-season against St. Mary’s (Md.).

Running Away

Runs have been a big part of the Greyhounds’ success this year. Here is a look at some runs of note:

Century Mark

Head Coach Jimmy Patsos became the third coach in Loyola history to win 100 games when the Greyhounds defeated UMBC, 73-63, on the road. Patsos, who is in his eighth season, took over a team that finished 1-27 during the 2002-2003 season. He won his 100th game in his 215th career game.

Last season, Patsos moved into third-place all time at Loyola in victories, trailing only Lefty Reitz (349 wins, 1937-44, 1945-61) and Nap Doherty (165, 1961-74).

Two Of A Kind

Although unofficial, research shows that Jimmy Patsos is one of only two coaches in the last 20 years to take over a team that won just one game the year prior to his arrival.

Brigham Young finished the 1996-1997 season with a 1-25 record. Steve Cleveland took over the following season and tallied 138 wins until his departure for Fresno State after the 2004-2005 season.

Men’s & Women’s Coaches With 100

Loyola University Maryland is one of just 26 mid-major schools that has men’s and women’s basketball coaches with 100 or more victories at their current school after Greyhound women’s coach Joe Logan got his 100th on December 18 in a win at George Washington.

Loyola is the only school in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to have accomplished the feat, and it is one of only five institutions at which the coaches have both won 100 or more games in 10 or fewer seasons.

Getting To The Line

As a team, Loyola went to the free-throw line 46 times at UMBC, making 31. The 46 attempts are the sixth-most all-time and most since the 2004-2005 squad attempted 53 on December 5, 2004, against Niagara.

Loyola’s 31 free throws made rank 11th on the school single-game chart and were the most since making 32 on January 14, 2009, versus NJIT.

Although his shot was not falling at UMBC, Dylon Cormier still found ways to be productive on the offensive end of the floor. The sophomore guard was just 2-of-9 from the field, but he went to the free-throw line 17 times, making 15, and finished with 20 points.

Cormier’s 15 free throws made are tied for sixth in Loyola single-game history, matching the total made by Mike Powell at Saint Peter’s on December 6, 1997, and Donovan Thomas against Marist on February 23, 2003. The 15 makes were the most by a Loyola player since Jamal Barney set the school record with 18 on January 14, 2009, against NJIT. His 17 attempts rank tied for sixth all-time.

Baltimore Bred And More From Nearby

Since taking over as head coach in 2004, Jimmy Patsos has put an emphasis on recruiting locally, and it has never shown as much as on this year’s roster. Three players – sophomore guard Dylon Cormier (Cardinal Gibbons), sophomore forward Jordan Latham (City) and freshman guard R.J. Williams (St. Frances) are products of schools within the city limits.

Six more players played in high school within 50 miles of Loyola, as the crow flies (thanks daftlogic.com): Shane Walker & Tyler Hubbard, Montrose Christian, 32.6 miles; Robert Olson, Georgetown Prep, 33.9; Justin Drummond, Riverdale Baptist, 33.9; Anthony Winbush, T.C. Williams, 43.7; and Erik Etherly, Annandale, 47.9.

What’s Next

Loyola hits the road for a Wednesday, February 15, game at Marist.

2012 Towson University Men’s Lacrosse

Game Notes: Game #1 at Jacksonville

Feb. 11, 2012 | 1 p.m. | Jacksonville, Fla.

TOWSON OPENS SHAWN NADELEN ERA AT JACKSONVILLE SATURDAY

Tigers and Dolphins Meet for First Time Ever in Men’s Lacrosse

Opening Face-Off
Opening their 54th season of college lacrosse, the Tigers will travel to Jacksonville University on Saturday afternoon to face the Dolphins in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. Opening face-off from D.B. Milne Field is set for 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on TowsonTigers.com and joined in progress on WNST-AM 1570 after the Tiger men’s basketball game against James Madison concludes.

Nadelen to Make Debut as Tigers’ Head Coach
After spending seven years as an assistant coach, including the last two seasons as the associate head coach, Coach Shawn Nadelen will make his head coaching debut when the Tigers travel to Jacksonville on Saturday afternoon. A 2001 graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Nadelen was named as the seventh head coach in the 54-year history of Towson men’s lacrosse on May 31. He replaces Tony Seaman, who posted a 99-93 record in 13 years with the Tigers.

A Quick Look Back at Last Year
The Tigers posted a 3-10 record last year and missed the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament for just the second time since joining the league in 2002. Five of the Tigers’ losses were by a one-goal margin and two of the Tigers’ three wins occurred at Johnny Unitas® Stadium. Junior attackman Matt Hughes was the Tigers’ leading scorer with 18 goals and 6 assists while defenseman Marc Ingerman was a second-team All-CAA selection. 

Scouting the Dolphins
Entering their third season as a Division I program, the Dolphins posted a 5-10 record last year, including a 3-3 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Led by TJ Kenary, the Dolphins advanced to the MAAC semi-finals for the first time in program history before losing to Siena. Kenary scored 21 goals with 7 assists while goalkeeper Peter DeLuca posted an 11.60 goals against average while stopping 50.8 per cent of the shots he faced. Coach Guy Van Arsdale is in his first season at Jacksonville.

Nice to Meet You
The Tigers and the Dolphins will be facing each other for the first time in men’s lacrosse when the two teams meet on Saturday afternoon. Jacksonville is one of two teams that the Tigers will be playing against for the first time; Towson will host Mercer on Mar. 21 at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.

For Openers
The Tigers will be playing in the 54th season opener when they visit the Dolphins on Saturday afternoon. However, the Tigers will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak in season openers after losing a 10-6 decision against Johns Hopkins last year at Unitas Stadium. The Tigers enter the 2012 season with a 23-30 all-time record in season openers.   

For Openers, Part II
Towson first-year Coach Shawn Nadelen is looking to become the fifth coach in the program’s history to open his head coaching tenure with a victory. Of the previous six coaches at Towson, only Bob Melville and Ross Sachs have lost their first game as the Tigers’ coach.    

Nadelen Among Nation’s Youngest Division I Head Coaches
Towson Coach Shawn Nadelen begins his head coaching tenure as one of the youngest head coaches in Division I men’s lacrosse. Nadelen, who will turn 33 on Apr. 16, is one of 12 coaches who are under the age of 40 years old. Marist College Coach Keegan Wilkinson is the youngest head coach in the nation at 27 years old while Robert Morris first-year Coach Andrew McMinn is 29 years old.    

Boys of Winter
Saturday’s game between the Tigers and the Dolphins will mark the earliest start to a season in the 54-year history of the Towson men’s lacrosse program. The previous record for the earliest start in school history occurred last year when the Tigers hosted Johns Hopkins on Feb. 19. It is also the earliest start in the brief history of the Dolphins’ program.   North Caro

Heading Down South
Saturday’s game between the Tigers and the Dolphins will mark the furthest south that Towson has ever traveled for a men’s lacrosse game. Prior to Saturday, the Tigers’ southern-most travel was to North Carolina for games against Duke, N.C. State and North Carolina. The Tigers will fly a total of 735 miles to Jacksonville for the game on Saturday.      

A Friend Turned Foe
When the Tigers open the season on Saturday afternoon, they will be playing against a former Tiger midfielder as Brock Armour, ‘10 is a member of the Jacksonville coaching staff. A four-year letter winner for the Tigers from 2007-10, Armour played in 52 career games and scored 15 goals with 19 assists. As a senior, he played in all 15 games and tallied four goals with 10 assists. Armour, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, is in his first season as a member of the Dolphins’ coaching staff.   

Pack Your Bags
The Tigers will open the season by playing their first three games away from Johnny Unitas® Stadium. It is the first time since the 1994 season that the Tigers have played three straight true road games to open the season (Towson played three games away from home in 2005, but one of them was a neutral site game against Air Force that was played at the University of Denver). In 1994, the Tigers opened the season with three straight road wins at Villanova, Maryland and Penn State.

Close Calls
Of the Tigers’ 13 games last season, 10 of them were decided by four goals or less. In addition, the Tigers played in six one-goal games and lost five of those six contests. Since the start of the 2010 season, the Tigers have played in 22 games that have been decided by four goals or less, including 11 one-goal games.

A Little Something Extra
Senior midfielder Michael Brashears ranked second on the Tigers last year with three extra-man goals, including a pair of extra-man goals against Drexel on Apr. 23 at Vidas Field. In fact, all seven of Brashears’ career goals have been scored in extra-man situations. He scored four extra-man goals as a sophomore, including a pair of extra-man goals against Drexel.

Hughes is Huge for Tigers Away from Home
Junior attackman Matt Hughes enjoyed playing away from Unitas Stadium last year, scoring 11 of his team-high 18 goals in the Tigers’ six road games. He posted a pair of three-goal efforts against Mount St. Mary’s on Mar. 5 and at Navy on Mar. 15. Hughes also had two goals with an assist at Delaware on Mar. 26 before a two-goal performance against Penn State on Apr. 16. It was a large contrast to Hughes’ freshman season when he tallied 11 of his 13 goals at home.

Iacona, Kenyon Named as Tigers’ Team Captains
Senior midfielder Carl Iacona and senior defenseman John Kenyon were named as the Tigers’ 2012 team captains prior to the team’s scrimmage against Albany on Feb. 4 by a vote of the team. Iacona is a two-year letter winner who has played in all 28 games for the Tigers since transferring from St. John’s University after his freshman season. He has scored 14 goals with seven assists in the last two years. Meanwhile, Kenyon is a three-year letter winner who ranked second on the team with 38 ground balls last year. He has played in 42 career games and has 50 ground balls.

Up Next for the Tigers
The Tigers will continue their season-opening three-game road trip next Friday when they travel to second-ranked Johns Hopkins for a 5 p.m. match-up against the Blue Jays. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and ESPN3.com in addition to airing on WNST-AM 1570. It will mark the 40th all-time meeting between the two teams in a series that Johns Hopkins leads by a 36-3 margin. The Blue Jays earned a 10-6 victory last year at Unitas Stadium in the season opener for both teams.

Game Data

The Greyhounds return to Reitz Arena for a pair of weekend games, starting with a Friday night contest against Iona College. Loyola will host the Gaels at 7 p.m. in a nationally televised game from Reitz Arena. The game is the second of a Loyola-Iona doubleheader following a women’s game between the schools at 4 p.m.

Loyola and Iona are currently tied for first place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with identical 11-2 records. The Gaels defeated the Greyhounds in the first meeting between the two in January.

Ticket Information

Tickets for the general public are sold out for the game. Loyola students, faculty and staff are encouraged to pick up their tickets to the game as soon as possible, as those tickets are running out.

A limited number of tickets may be available to the general public approximately an hour before the game.

On The Tube

Loyola and Iona will square off in a nationally televised game on ESPNU College Basketball Built by the Home Depot. Doug Sherman will call the play-by-play, and Tim O’Toole will provide the analysis.

The game is Loyola’s third on ESPNU this season following a 66-63 victory at Fairfield on January 13 and a 63-46 win last Friday at home versus Rider. This year, Loyola has already played eight games on television.

Those with access to Watch ESPN on various smart phones, tablets and game consoles can also watch the video broadcast of the action.

Over The Airwaves

The game’s audio will be streamed live on LoyolaGreyhounds.com.

Series History

Loyola and Iona will meet for the 54th time in series history when the teams take the court on Sunday. The Gaels hold a 41-12 advantage in the series after defeating Loyola, 74-63, on January 15, in New Rochelle, N.Y.

The Greyhounds led by as many as seven early in the second half, but a 9-0 run by Iona gave the Gaels a four-point lead with 12:13 to play. Justin Drummond and Dylon Cormier scored to tie the game again for Loyola, but Mike Glover tipped-in an offensive rebound to give Iona the lead for good moments later.

Robert Olson tied his career-high with 21 points, while, and Drummond added 12. Four Iona players scored in double figures, led by Lamont Jones’ 25.

Six Under Sixty

For the first time in its NCAA Division I history (since 1981-1982), Loyola has held six consecutive opponents to fewer than 60 points.

Over the last six games, all Loyola victories, the Greyhounds have held Siena, Saint Peter’s (twice), Niagara, Canisius and Rider to an average of 53.2 points per game.

The Greyhounds previously had held three teams to sub-60 performances just once since joining Division I, and that came during 1981-1982, their first season at this level.

The last time a Loyola team held six-straight teams under 60, regardless of division, came in January-February 1977 when it held six teams in a row – Southampton, Saint Peter’s, Randolph-Macon, Mount St. Mary’s, Baltimore and Philadelphia Textile – to 59 or fewer. The Greyhounds, however, were just 3-3 in that stretch.

During The Six

Loyola’s success during the last six games is reflected in several statistics. Opponents are shooting .387, .046 lower than the season average of .433. Also, Loyola has held foes to .241 from 3-point range, more than 10 points lower than the season mark of .350.

Following the Greyhounds’ game at Iona on January 15, Loyola was ranked 265th in field-goal percentage defense (.449), 325th in 3-point defense (.389), and 163rd in scoring defense (66.2).

The last six games have moved the Greyhounds to 193rd in field goal percentage defense (.443), 215th in 3-point defense (.350) and 71st in scoring defense (62.8).

Fastest To 18

Loyola’s win over Saint Peter’s was the Greyhounds’ 18th of the season, marking their fastest path to 18 victories since joining Division I for the 1981-1982 season. The Greyhounds’ arrival at 18 wins after just 23 games came by a wide margin over the previous best.

The 2006-2007 squad, set the previous standard, reaching 18 wins in 30 games, seven more than this year’s team.

Eighteen wins also are tied for the second-most in the program’s Division I history. The 2006-2007 team finished 18-13, and the 2007-2008 side holds the record with a 19-14 mark.

Through 23

Loyola’s 18-5 start through its first 23 games of the season ranks is tied for the third-best start during that many games in program history. The start is the best since 1947-1948 when “Lefty” Reitz’s team opened its season with the same record through 23.

The best start through 23 games came in 1940-1941 when another Reitz-coached team that played only 23 games, finishing the year with a 19-4 record.

Good MAAC Start

With wins in 11 of its first 13 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games this season, Loyola is off to its best start in league play since joining the league in 1989-1990. The Greyhounds’ previous best starts were 9-4 in both 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.

Reitz Was Rockin’

Last Friday night’s game against Rider featured the first sellout crowd in Reitz Arena since November 14, 2008, when the Greyhounds hosted Mount St. Mary’s. With only student tickets remaining for the Iona contest, it could be the first back-to-back sellouts since Reitz opened in December 1984.

Threes In The First

Robert Olson put on a shooting clinic in the first half of Sunday’s win at Saint Peter’s, making all four of his 3-point attempts and finishing the stanza with 14 points. While foul trouble limited him to nine second-half minutes, he finished with 19 points, two off his career-high, and he matched his season-high with five 3-pointers.

His only miss from behind the arc in the game came with 32 seconds left in the game. He fired a long three with the shot-clock expiring as Loyola was running out the clock.

Olson is now shooting 45.4-percent from 3-point range, and his 49 threes made this season are tied for 14th in school single-season history. His 3-point field goal percentage currently stands third in school single-season history.

Olson has made 121 threes in his career, good for seventh-best all-time at Loyola. With four more, he will tie Gerald Brown (2006-2008) for sixth.

Etherly’s Last Nine

Erik Etherly continued his solid play of late with 15 points against both Rider and Saint Peter’s. The game against the Broncs marked the fifth time in the Greyhounds’ last eight that he has scored 15 or more points, and it raised his nine-game scoring average to 14.8 points.

Etherly also has averaged 7.6 rebounds, as well, during the stretch that dates back to the Greyhounds’ first meeting with Canisius on January 7.

During the stretch, Etherly has scored in double figures eight times – he finished with nine at Iona – and he has scored 15 or more six times.

Olson’s January, Continued

After a stretch of not scoring in double figures for the last three games of December and the first two in January, Robert Olson was the Greyhounds’ leading scorer during the first month of the new calendar year, averaging 13.8. He continued his stretch of scoring with 14 against Rider and 19 at Saint Peter’s in February’s first two contests.

In Loyola’s last nine games, a stretch in which the Greyhounds are 8-1, Olson has averaged a team-best 15.6 points per game.

During those eight games, his low total is 11, coming at Niagara. He is shooting .552 from the field (48-of-87) and a more impressive .536 (30-of-56) from 3-point range.

Olson has made at least two 3-pointers in each of the nine games and has three or more in all but two (at Niagara, Rider).

Senior Stepping Up

Shane Walker’s play over the Greyhounds’ last three games has been more in line with his season averages after tailing off some during the month of January.

Walker has averaged 12.7 points and 9.3 rebounds against Canisius, Rider and Saint Peter’s, a stretch in which he also has eight assists, eight blocked shots and six steals.

In January’s first eight games, every contest that month except for the date at Canisius, Walker scored just 5.4 points per game, shooting 26.5-percent from the field and 23.5-percent from 3-point range. His rebounds per game also dipped to 5.1.

Over the last three, however, Walker has shot 48.6-percent from the field and a modest 33.3-percent from 3-point range. He had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds at Canisius, a season-high 12 boards versus Rider, and then a 14-point, 5-steal performance at Saint Peter’s.

Sticky Fingers

Saint Peter’s had 19 turnovers last Sunday, 15 as the result of Loyola steals. Shane Walker, Anthony Winbush and Robert Olson combined for 12 of the steals, as Walker had 5, Winbush 4 and Olson 3.

Last Time Out

Robert Olson was 4-of-4 from 3-point range in the first half, and the Greyhounds took a 32-23 lead into the locker room at Saint Peter’s, and Loyola held off a second-half Peacocks’ charge.

The Greyhounds were up by 15 just over eight minutes into the second half, but the Peacocks used a 12-2 run over five-plus minutes to pull within five, 51-46. Erik Etherly scored five in a row, and after three Saint Peter’s free throws, Olson made his fifth three of the game, and Loyola was up by 10 or more the rest of the way.

Something Had To Give

Entering last Friday night’s game against Rider, Loyola had held four consecutive opponents to 57 or fewer points, while the Broncs were averaging 87.5 points in their previous three games.

Loyola’s defense prevailed in the contest, holding Rider to 12 points in the first half and just 46 overall. It was the Broncs’ lowest scoring game since February 2008 when Fairfield held them to 40.

Almost 20 Years

Rider’s 46 points were the fewest Loyola has allowed since the Greyhounds defeated Niagara, 68-45, on February 21, 1992, a stretch of 521 games.

Loyola has now held opponents to 49 or fewer points eight times since joining NCAA Division I in 1981-1982. The Greyhounds did it twice each in 1981-1982, 1984-1985 and 1991-1992 and once in 1983-1984.

Field-Goal Defense

Loyola held Rider to 30.6-percent from the floor (15-of-49), the lowest field-goal percentage of the season for a Greyhound opponent. The Broncs’ 15 field goals made were the lowest of the year, as well.

Rider’s field-goal percentage was the lowest by a Loyola opponent since Mount St. Mary’s shot 28.8-percent (17-of-59) on December 11, 2010.

First-Half Defense

Loyola forced 12 Rider turnovers and held the Broncs to 3-of-23 (.130) from the field in the first half on Friday night. The Greyhounds used an 18-0 run to take a 24-5 lead with just under nine minutes to play before the break.

During the 7-minute, 6-second stretch of play, Rider was 0-of-8 from the field, went without an offensive rebound and had six turnovers.

Buffalo Two-Step

The Greyhounds completed a feat they have never accomplished last weekend, sweeping Niagara and Canisius on the road. Since joining the MAAC in 1989-1990, the best Loyola fared on the Western New York roadtrip was a split of the two teams.

January Success

Loyola finished the month of January with a 7-2 record for the second year in a row, duplicating the effort the 2010-2011 squad put together after the calendar flipped.

Including this year, Loyola is 39-19 (.672) during the year’s first month over the last six seasons. The 2006-2007 team set the standard with an 8-2 (.800) record, and the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 sides followed with 7-3 (.700) marks. The 2009-2010 team slid to 3-7 (.300) before last year’s team experienced success again.

During Jimmy Patsos’ eight seasons at Loyola, the Greyhounds are 45-33 (.577) during January.

Assists All-Around

Loyola finished its game at Canisius game with 18 assists, tying its season-high set earlier this year against Florida Gulf Coast and when Canisius played in Baltimore. All five starters had two or more assists, and three had four-plus: Erik Etherly (5), Robert Olson and R.J. Williams (4), Shane Walker (3) and Anthony Winbush (2).

Williams’ Solid Weekend

Freshman point guard R.J. Williams put together one of his better weekends of the season, by averaging 7.5 points, 5.5 assists and just 1.5 turnovers in the victories over Niagara and Canisius.

Williams scored eight points and had a career-best seven assists at Niagara, and he followed that by scoring seven and dishing out four helpers against the Golden Griffins.

Bracketbuster Opponent Named

Loyola learned Monday that it will host Boston University of the America East Conference in its sixth appearance in the Sears’ Bracketbuster Event. The Greyhounds and Terriers will play Sunday, February 19, at 12 noon in Reitz Arena.

FG Percentage Getting It Done

While not the most glamorous mark in the box score, Loyola is 14-0 this season when it shoots 41.3-percent or better from the field. The Greyhounds have made less than 44-percent of their shots and won seven times this season.

As of Monday, the Greyhounds ranked 234th out of 338 teams in NCAA Division I with a .420 field goal percentage, and they are one of just two teams (joining Robert Morris) to have 16 or more wins and rank 225 or higher in the category.

Tied For Second In Road Wins

As of the beginning of the week, Loyola’s 10 road wins had them tied for second in all of NCAA Division I for victories away from its home court.

Cleveland State leads the way with 11, while the Greyhounds are tied with Murray State, Friday’s foe Iona and Wagner.

Olson Scores In Bunches

Robert Olson scored seven points in a 23-second stretch versus Fairfield, going on a 7-0 run by himself. Fairfield led 62-55 when Olson pulled up for an 18-foot jumper with 1:42 left in regulation. He then hit a shot with his foot on the 3-point line 15 ticks later to make it a 3-point Stags lead. The junior guard tied the game at 62-62 with 1:19 on the clock with a three from the right side.

Olson finished with 15 points, 13 coming in the second half. Earlier in the stanza, an Olson three at the 14:38 mark cut Fairfield’s largest lead of 15 to 12, and he then knocked one down with 10:04 on the clock.

It was the second game in a row Olson has scored seven-straight points in the second half. He went on a personal 7-0 run against Canisius to move Loyola’s lead back to 11 after the Golden Griffins cut it to four.

The second half has often been a big one for Olson. Last year, he scored nine points in 83 seconds to help defeat Morgan State, and against Iona in Baltimore, Olson made a three pointer with seven ticks of the clock left to tie and send the game to overtime. He then scored the game’s last four points to secure the victory.

Walker Moves Into Second

Shane Walker blocked two Fairfield shots in the first three minutes of the game, and he then swatted a Maurice Barrow layup with 13:58 on the clock, tying him for second all-time at Loyola in blocked shots.

With five blocks against Canisius, Walker now has 124 blocks in his career and is all alone in second place. Brian Carroll (1997-2001) holds the school record with 213.

Everyone On The Offensive Boards

Loyola leads the MAAC in offensive rebounding as a team, averaging 14.0, more than a full rebound more per game that second-place Canisius (12.9).

Despite the team ranking, no Greyhounds player is higher than seventh in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Erik Etherly is tied for sixth with 2.6, while Justin Drummond is 13th with 2.2.

Thievery

Loyola caused 20 Siena turnovers, and the Greyhounds were credited with 19 steals. R.J. Williams led the way with a career-high five, while Erik Etherly, Dylon Cormier and Robert Olson each had three.

The 19 steals are the second-most in school history, one more than the Greyhounds posted in a November 29, 1997, game at Kent State. It is also the most Loyola has recorded against a Division I opponent. The school single-game record of 20 came on February 28, 1996, when the team closed the regular-season against St. Mary’s (Md.).

Running Away

Runs have been a big part of the Greyhounds’ success this year. Here is a look at some runs of note:

Century Mark

Head Coach Jimmy Patsos became the third coach in Loyola history to win 100 games when the Greyhounds defeated UMBC, 73-63, on the road. Patsos, who is in his eighth season, took over a team that finished 1-27 during the 2002-2003 season. He won his 100th game in his 215th career game.

Last season, Patsos moved into third-place all time at Loyola in victories, trailing only Lefty Reitz (349 wins, 1937-44, 1945-61) and Nap Doherty (165, 1961-74).

Two Of A Kind

Although unofficial, research shows that Jimmy Patsos is one of only two coaches in the last 20 years to take over a team that won just one game the year prior to his arrival.

Brigham Young finished the 1996-1997 season with a 1-25 record. Steve Cleveland took over the following season and tallied 138 wins until his departure for Fresno State after the 2004-2005 season.

Men’s & Women’s Coaches With 100

Loyola University Maryland is one of just 26 mid-major schools that has men’s and women’s basketball coaches with 100 or more victories at their current school after Greyhound women’s coach Joe Logan got his 100th on December 18 in a win at George Washington.

Loyola is the only school in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to have accomplished the feat, and it is one of only five institutions at which the coaches have both won 100 or more games in 10 or fewer seasons.

Getting To The Line

As a team, Loyola went to the free-throw line 46 times at UMBC, making 31. The 46 attempts are the sixth-most all-time and most since the 2004-2005 squad attempted 53 on December 5, 2004, against Niagara.

Loyola’s 31 free throws made rank 11th on the school single-game chart and were the most since making 32 on January 14, 2009, versus NJIT.

Although his shot was not falling at UMBC, Dylon Cormier still found ways to be productive on the offensive end of the floor. The sophomore guard was just 2-of-9 from the field, but he went to the free-throw line 17 times, making 15, and finished with 20 points.

Cormier’s 15 free throws made are tied for sixth in Loyola single-game history, matching the total made by Mike Powell at Saint Peter’s on December 6, 1997, and Donovan Thomas against Marist on February 23, 2003. The 15 makes were the most by a Loyola player since Jamal Barney set the school record with 18 on January 14, 2009, against NJIT. His 17 attempts rank tied for sixth all-time.

Baltimore Bred And More From Nearby

Since taking over as head coach in 2004, Jimmy Patsos has put an emphasis on recruiting locally, and it has never shown as much as on this year’s roster. Three players – sophomore guard Dylon Cormier (Cardinal Gibbons), sophomore forward Jordan Latham (City) and freshman guard R.J. Williams (St. Frances) are products of schools within the city limits.

Six more players played in high school within 50 miles of Loyola, as the crow flies (thanks daftlogic.com): Shane Walker & Tyler Hubbard, Montrose Christian, 32.6 miles; Robert Olson, Georgetown Prep, 33.9; Justin Drummond, Riverdale Baptist, 33.9; Anthony Winbush, T.C. Williams, 43.7; and Erik Etherly, Annandale, 47.9.

What’s Next

Loyola returns to the hardwood at Reitz Arena on Sunday afternoon for a 4 p.m. game against Fairfield University that will be broadcast on ESPN3.