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.

Honorable Mention: Golf-PGA Tour Northern Trust Open (Thursday & Friday 3pm live on Golf Channel, Saturday & Sunday 3pm live on CBS. All golf from Pacific Palisades, CA), Champions Tour ACE Group Classic (Friday & Saturday 6:30pm Sunday 7pm from Naples, FL on Golf Channel), Honda LPGA Thailand (Thursday & Friday 12:30pm Saturday & Sunday 3pm from Chonburi, Thailand on Golf Channel); Women’s College Basketball: Duke @ Maryland (Sunday 3pm from Comcast Center live on ESPN2); Soccer: MISL Milwaukee Wave @ Baltimore Blast (Saturday 7:35pm 1st Mariner Arena); Boxing: ShoBox-Thomas Dulorme vs. Jose Reynoso (Friday 11pm from Santa Ynez, CA live on Showtime), Paul Williams vs. Nobuhiro Ishida (Saturday 10pm from Corpus Christi, TX live on Showtime), Friday Night Fights-John Molina vs. Marvin Quintero (Friday 9pm from Arlington, TX live on ESPN2); High School Basketball: Perry Hall @ Hereford (Wednesday 6:30pm); Roller Derby: Charm City Roller Girls (Saturday 5:30pm Du Burns Arena)

10. They Might Be Giants (Friday 7pm Rams Head Live); Hunter Hayes (Wednesday 7pm Recher Theatre), Biohazard (Thursday 7pm Recher Theatre), Less Than Jake (Saturday 7pm Recher Theatre); Gary Puckett and The Union Gap (Thursday & Friday 8pm Rams Head on Stage), America (Saturday 8pm Sunday 7pm Rams Head on Stage), Ben Lee (Monday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Sleigh Bells (Thursday 7pm 9:30 Club), Mos Def (Monday 7pm 9:30 Club); New Edition (Thursday 7pm Show Place Arena); Peter Frampton (Sunday 8pm Warner Theatre); Amos Lee “As The Crow Flies” available on iTunes/in stores (Tuesday)

I had never heard Hunter Hayes until last week. I don’t like all country music, but I will be forced to admit I enjoy this country music…

Here’s Less Than Jake doing David Cassidy because they can…

I get steamed up for Gary Puckett. Now I miss WQSR…

Other than the fact that he’s talented, Mos Def and I are exactly the same…

9. Royal Comedy Tour feat. Sommore, Tony Rock, Bruce Bruce, Mark Curry, Earthquake (Friday 8pm 1st Mariner Arena); Kevin Hart (Tuesday-Thursday 7pm & 10:30pm Meyerhoff Symphony Hall); Norm MacDonald (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); Steve Harvey (Friday & Saturday 8pm D.A.R. Constitution Hall); Alonzo Bodden (Tuesday 7pm & 9pm Baltimore Comedy Factory), Tommy Davidson (Thursday-Sunday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Glenn Clark’s Valentine’s Day plans (Tuesday Parts Unknown)

First here’s Norm MacDonald…

Now here’s Jay Mohr doing Norm MacDonald…

And this is the Chocolate Wonderfall my girlfriend and I will enjoy when I take her to Golden Corral Tuesday night like they said I should do in those commercials…

She’s so lucky to have me.

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.

Game Data

Loyola University Maryland travels to Jersey City, N.J., for a game on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5, 2012, at Saint Peter’s College. Tip-off has been moved to 12 noon in the Yanitelli Center.

Series History

Sunday’s game will be the 76th all-time meeting by the fellow Jesuit schools with Saint Peter’s holding a 42-33 lead in the series. The series is the second most-played amongst the Greyhounds’ current opponents, trailing only Mount St. Mary’s.

Loyola picked up a 65-54 victory over the Peacocks, last year’s MAAC Champions, on Sunday, January 22, in the teams’ first meeting this season. Erik Etherly scored 19 for the Greyhounds, and Robert Olson added 15.

The teams split last year’s regular-season meetings, each winning on the other’s home court. Saint Peter’s then defeated Loyola in the MAAC Quarterfinals, en route to winning the MAAC Championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament.

Five Under Sixty

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

Over the last four games, all Loyola victories, the Greyhounds have held Siena, Saint Peter’s, Niagara and Canisius to an average of 52.8 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 four-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.

Super Bowl Stats

The game against Saint Peter’s will mark the 14th time the Greyhounds will have played on the date of the Super Bowl, and Loyola is 8-5 in the 13 previous games.

As far as signs go, NFC teams are 6-2 when Loyola wins, and NFC teams have a slim 7-6 advantage on days when the Greyhounds play.

Loyola was a winner the last time the Giants and Patriots met in the Super Bowl. The Greyhounds defeated Canisius, 74-62, on February 3, 2008.

Something Had To Give

Entering 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.

Two In A Row For Walker

Shane Walker had not recorded a double-figure rebounding performance this season until January 29 at Canisius, and now he has done it twice in as many games. Walker finished his 17-point, 11-rebound game against the Golden Griffins with a game- and season-high 12 boards versus Rider.

Walker’s 11 defensive rebounds were the most this season by any Loyola player.

Cormier Back In Action

Dylon Cormier returned to game action on Friday night after missing the Greyhounds’ contest at Canisius with an ankle injury. Cormier, who was limited to 11 minutes off the bench at Niagara, came off the bench against Rider and finished with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting.

Cormier played 28 minutes against the Broncs and also had a game-high four steals.

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.

Leading Scorers During Last Five

During the stretch of five games in which Loyola has held opponents to 57 or fewer points, the Greyhounds have held the opposing teams’ leading scorers under the season averages entering the game.

Loyola held Chris Prescott (Saint Peter’s) and O.D. Anosike (Siena) to less than a point under their previous averages. Since they, the Greyhounds limited Juan’ya Green (Niagara) to 14, more than three under his average, Harold Washington (Canisius) nine short of his 17+ average and Jeff Jones (Rider) to seven fewer than his 13+ mark.

Fastest To 17

Loyola’s win over Rider was the Greyhounds’ 17th of the season, marking their fastest path to 17 victories since joining Division I for the 1981-1982 season. The Greyhounds’ arrival at 17 wins came by a wide margin over the previous best.

The 2006-2007  and 2007-2008 squads, set the previous standard, reaching 17 wins in 29 games, seven more than this year’s team.

Through 22

Loyola’s 17-5 start through its first 22 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 21.

The best start through 21 games came in 1940-1941 when another Reitz-coached team entered the Mason-Dixon Conference Championship with an 18-3 record. That Loyola team defeated Mount St. Mary’s in the semifinals before losing to Western Maryland (now McDaniel) in the title game.

Good MAAC Start

With wins in 10 of its first 12 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 MAAC starts were 9-3 in both 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.

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.

In Loyola’s last eight games, a stretch in which the Greyhounds are 7-1, Olson has averaged a team-best 15.1 points per game.

During those eight games, his low total is 11, coming last Friday at Niagara. He is shooting .532 from the field (42-of-79) and a more impressive .500 (25-of-50) from 3-point range.

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

Etherly’s Last Eight

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

Etherly also has averaged 7.4 rebounds, as well, during the stretch that dates back to the Greyhounds’ first meeting with Canisius on January 7.

The junior forward finished last Sunday’s game against Saint Peter’s with 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots, all game highs. He also was 9-of-12 from the free-throw line, matching his season-best for free throws made.

Last Time Out

Rider was within a point, 6-5, after a Jonathon Thompson three less than three minutes in before Loyola went on an 18-0 run that turned into a stretch that the Greyhounds outscored the Broncs, 33-7 to end the half.

The Broncs came out quickly in the second half, scoring the first 11 points and 15 of the first 16. Loyola, however, quickly stamped out the run, going back up by 20 with 9:35 to play.

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.

Double-Double For Walker

Shane Walker led all players with 17 points and 11 rebounds in Sunday’s win at Canisius, his first double-double of the season and seventh of his career.

Walker scored 11 points in the first half and also had six offensive rebounds during the game, the most by any Loyola player this season. He was 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, as well.

Defense As Good Or Better

While Walker’s contributions on the boards and offense were solid, Shane Walker’s defense against Canisius was even better.

Walker finished the game with five blocked shots and altered several more with his presence in the post. The five blocks were the most this season by a Loyola player and just one off Walker’s previous career high of six that came on January 15, 2010, at Marist.

Winbush Continues Contributions As Starter

Anthony Winbush got his fifth start of the season Sunday at Canisius in place of the injured Dylon Cormier, and Winbush made his presence known in several areas.

He finished the game with six rebounds, four offensive, and had a season-high five steals, one off his career high of six which came in a December 2009 victory at Indiana. His defensive versatility was also critical as Canisius started four guards.

During Loyola’s modest four-game winning streak, Winbush has averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He also has averages of 1.8 assists and steals per game.

Assists All-Around

Loyola finished Sunday’s 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.

Sharper Shooting

Loyola recorded its second-best shooting performance of the season at Niagara, finishing the game 21-of-40, a 52.5-percent clip. The number was buoyed significantly by an 11-of-16, 68.8-percent, mark in the second half.

The Greyhounds’ second-half numbers represented their best 20 minutes of the season. Meanwhile, Loyola made 80-percent (24-of-30) of its free throws, as well, on Friday night, their best free-throw shooting performance of the season.

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 nine road wins had them tied for second in all of NCAA Division I for victories away from its home court.

Wagner leads the way with 10, while the Greyhounds are tied with Murray State, Harvard, Iona and Cleveland State.

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 14.1, more than a full rebound more per game that second-place Canisius (13.0).

Despite the team ranking, no Greyhounds player is higher than seventh in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Erik Etherly is seventh with 2.5, while Justin Drummond is tied for 12th with 2.2, just ahead of teammate Dylon Cormier in 15th.

No other league team has more than two players in the top 15 of the statistical 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

The Greyhounds are back home next weekend to host a pair of MAAC games on the ESPN family of networks. Friday’s contest against Iona at 7 o’clock will be televised on ESPNU, and the Sunday 4 o’clock battle versus Fairfield will be aired on ESPN3. Both of those games are also doubleheaders with the Loyola women hosting Iona and Fairfield at 4 p.m. and 12 noon, respectively.

Game Data

The Greyhounds return to Reitz Arena for a televised game on Friday, February 3, 2012, against Rider University. The contest, which is slated for 7 o’clock, will be Loyola’s first against the Broncs this season, marking the last Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference team it will have faced at least once this year.

On The Tube

Loyola and Rider 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 second on ESPNU this season following a 66-63 victory at Fairfield on January 13. This year, Loyola already played seven 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 also be streamed live on LoyolaGreyhounds.com. Gary Lambrecht will handle play-by-play, and Jim Chivers will be on color.

Series History

Loyola and Rider will meet for the 38th time in series history when the teams take the floor on Friday with the Broncs holding a 22-15 lead in the previous 37 games.

The Broncs swept the season series in 2010-2011, winning the first meeting on February 4, 2011, when Danny Stewart made a pair of free throws with 3.5 seconds on the clock to secure a 61-60 win for Rider.

Rider then overcame 21 turnovers when the teams played in Reitz Arena on February 16, 2011, to win 82-70.

Last year’s sweep was Rider’s first over the Greyhounds since the 2006-2007 season.

Loyola has won four of the last seven meetings between the teams and four of the last six in Reitz Arena.

Four Under Sixty

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

Over the last four games, all Loyola victories, the Greyhounds have held Siena, Saint Peter’s, Niagara and Canisius to an average of 54.5 points per game.

The Greyhounds previous had held 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 four-straight teams under 60, regardless of division, came in February 1980 when it kept Philadelphia Textile, Swarthmore, Pitt-Johnstown and St. Mary’s (Md.) to 59 or fewer.

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.

Fastest To 16

Loyola’s win over Canisius was the Greyhounds’ 16th of the season, marking their fastest path to 16 victories since joining Division I for the 1981-1982 season. The Greyhounds’ arrival at 15 wins came by a wide margin over the previous best.

The 2006-2007 squad, which was Jimmy Patsos’ third at the school, set the previous standard, reaching 16 wins in 27 games, six more than this year’s team.

Through 21

Loyola’s 16-5 start through its first 21 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 1949-1950 when “Lefty” Reitz’s team opened its season with the same record through 21.

The best start through 21 games came in 1940-1941 when another Reitz-coached team entered the Mason-Dixon Conference Championship with an 18-3 record. That Loyola team defeated Mount St. Mary’s in the semifinals before losing to Western Maryland (now McDaniel) in the title game.

Good MAAC Start

With wins in nine of its first 11 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 MAAC starts were 8-3 in both 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.

Success Sans Cormier

Last weekend’s victories at Niagara and Canisius came without the Greyhounds’ top scorer in good health. Dylon Cormier, who entered the weekend averaging 15.3 points per game, was credited with 11 minutes of action (although game tape revealed it was closer to seven) at Niagara after suffering an ankle injury the previous Tuesday in practice. Cormier did not play at all against Canisius.

Double-Double For Walker

Shane Walker led all players with 17 points and 11 rebounds in Sunday’s win at Canisius, his first double-double of the season and seventh of his career.

Walker scored 11 points in the first half and also had six offensive rebounds during the game, the most by any Loyola player this season. He was 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, as well.

Defense As Good Or Better

While Walker’s contributions on the boards and offense were solid, Shane Walker’s defense against Canisius was even better.

Walker finished the game with five blocked shots and altered several more with his presence in the post. The five blocks were the most this season by a Loyola player and just one off Walker’s previous career high of six that came on January 15, 2010, at Marist.

Olson’s January

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 seven games, a stretch in which the Greyhounds are 6-1, Olson has averaged a team-best 15.3 points per game.

During those seven games, his low total is 11, coming last Friday at Niagara. He is shooting .529 from the field (37-of-70) and a more impressive .523 (23-of-44) from 3-point range.

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

Winbush Continues Contributions As Starter

Anthony Winbush got his fifth start of the season Sunday in place of the injured Dylon Cormier, and Winbush made his presence known in several areas.

He finished the game with six rebounds, four offensive, and had a season-high five steals, one off his career high of six which came in a December 2009 victory at Indiana. His defensive versatility was also critical as Canisius started four guards.

During Loyola’s modest four-game winning streak, Winbush has averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He also has averages of 1.8 assists and steals per game.

Assists All-Around

Loyola finished Sunday’s 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).

Must Be The Lake-Effect Wind

While the Greyhounds spent four nights in Buffalo, sustained winds of 25 miles per hour or more came off Lake Erie for much of the trip.

The breeze must have helped the Greyhounds’ free-throw shooting as they recorded back-to-back season-high performances in free-throw percentage. Loyola made 24-of-30 (.800) at Niagara, and it then checked in with 13-of-16 (.813) against the Golden Griffins. The games are, to date, the only two .800-plus outings of the season.

Slowing A Scorer

A big reason for the Greyhounds’ ability to hold Canisius to just 52 points Sunday was the defensive effort R.J. Williams, Justin Drummond and Anthony Winbush combined to put on Harold Washington, the Golden Griffins’ leading scorer.

Washington entered the game averaging 17.2 points per game, good for fourth in the MAAC, but he finished with just eight points on 2-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-7 from the line. Washington was held under double digits for just the third time this season, and his eight points were his second-lowest total of the year.

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.

Last Time Out

Canisius led 22-16 after a David Santiago layup with 8:02 to play in the first half, but those were the last points the Greyhounds would allow before halftime, going on a 12-0 run to close the stanza.

Loyola extended the run to 24-2 in the second half and led 40-24 when Erik Ethelry converted a traditional 3-point play with 15:58 on the clock.

Sunday’s Time Changed

The Greyhounds’ game on Sunday at Saint Peter’s has been changed to a 12 noon tip-off in Jersey City.

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.

Drummond Seeing Purple

Justin Drummond had his third 20-plus point game of the season and second versus Niagara on Friday night when he scored 21, 17 coming in the second half.

Drummond was 5-of-11 from the field and made 11-of-12 at the free-throw line. He also had a career-high four steals.

This season, he is 14-of-27 from the field and has scored 44 points in two games versus the Purple Eagles. He also has averaged six rebounds in the two meetings.

He followed that outing by making 6-of-10 shots and scoring 14 points to go with four rebounds at Canisius. Over the weekend, he averaged 17.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in the wins.

Etherly’s Last Seven

Erik Etherly continued his solid play of late with 18 points in Friday night’s victory at Niagara and 15 in Sunday’s win at Canisius. The game against the Golden Griffins marked the fourth time in the Greyhounds’ last six that he has scored 15 or more points, and it raised his seven-game scoring average to 14.7 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.

The junior forward finished last Sunday’s game against Saint Peter’s with 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots, all game highs. He also was 9-of-12 from the free-throw line, matching his season-best for free throws made.

Last week, in a pair of Loyola wins, Etherly averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds after scoring 12 and pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds against Siena.

In And Out Of The Lineup

Jordan Latham returned to the Loyola rotation for the first time since December 28 at Bucknell after missing seven games following a foot injury prior to the January 2 game. Latham entered the game with 13:05 to go in the first half and 16 seconds later blocked a shot. He played 15 minutes and finished with two blocks.

On the other hand, Dylon Cormier did not start for the first time in his college career and was also held scoreless for the first time. Cormier was injured in practice earlier this week and did not play in the first half against Niagara.

Sharper Shooting

Loyola recorded its second-best shooting performance of the season Friday night at Niagara, finishing the game 21-of-40, a 52.5-percent clip. The number was buoyed significantly by an 11-of-16, 68.8-percent, mark in the second half.

The Greyhounds’ second-half numbers represented their best 20 minutes of the season. Meanwhile, Loyola made 80-percent (24-of-30) of its free throws, as well, on Friday night, their best free-throw shooting performance of the season.

FG Percentage Getting It Done

While not the most glamorous mark in the box score, Loyola is 13-0 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 nine road wins had them tied for second in all of NCAA Division I for victories away from its home court.

Wagner leads the way with 10, while the Greyhounds are tied with Murray State, Harvard, Iona and Cleveland State.

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 14.3, nearly a full rebound more per game that second-place Canisius (13.2).

Despite the team ranking, no Greyhounds player is higher than seventh in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Erik Etherly is seventh with 2.5, while Justin Drummond is 13th with 2.2, just ahead of teammate Dylon Cormier in 14th.

No other league team has more than two players in the top 15 of the statistical 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 Super Bowl Sunday contest on February 5 at Saint Peter’s College. Tip-off has been moved to 12 noon in Jersey City, N.J.

The Greyhounds are back home next weekend to host a pair of MAAC games on the ESPN family of networks. Friday’s contest against Iona at 7 o’clock will be televised on ESPNU, and the Sunday 4 o’clock battle versus Fairfield will be aired on ESPN3. Both of those games are also doubleheaders with the Loyola women hosting Iona and Fairfield at 4 p.m. and 12 noon, respectively.

Game Data

Loyola University Maryland wraps up its swing through Western New York on Sunday afternoon, January 29, 2012, when it plays Canisius College at 2:15 p.m. The game is the second of a doubleheader following the Golden Griffins women and Rider University.

Series History

Loyola and Canisius will meet for the 56th time in series history on Sunday. The Golden Griffins hold a 34-21 advantage in the series after Loyola won the first meeting earlier this year.

The Greyhounds defeated Canisius, 77-62, on January 7 in Baltimore when Robert Olson scored seven straight points after the Golden Griffins had cut their deficit to just four with more than 10 minutes to play. Olson had 16 points, and Dylon Cormier scored 23 for Loyola.

Both teams won on their home court last year with the Greyhounds defeating Canisius, 72-57, on February 13, 2011, behind 22 points from Justin Drummond and 18 from Erik Etherly. The Golden Griffins returned the favor, topping Loyola, 75-58, 14 days later in Buffalo.

Jesuit Basketball Spotlight

Sunday’s Canisius is the fourth 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 3-0 in Jesuit Basketball Spotlight games this season with wins over Canisius, Fairfield and Saint Peter’s.

Drummond Seeing Purple

Justin Drummond had his third 20-plus point game of the season and second versus Niagara on Friday night when he scored 21, 17 coming in the second half.

Drummond was 5-of-11 from the field and made 11-of-12 at the free-throw line. He also had a career-high four steals.

This season, he is 14-of-27 from the field and has scored 44 points in two games versus the Purple Eagles. He also has averaged six rebounds in the two meetings.

Etherly At Gallagher

Erik Etherly is another Loyola player who has seen success in recent games against Niagara.  The junior forward has played twice at the Gallagher Center, averaging 18.5 points in the Loyola victories each of the last two seasons.

Highs And Lows Of Rebounding

Loyola experienced highs and lows of rebounding in its game Friday night, recording its season-low in offensive rebounds with just four. However, the Greyhounds countered by matching their season-high with 29 defensive rebounds.

Some of Loyola’s lack of offensive rebounds was due to good shooting. The Greyhounds shot 52.5-percent from the field, and they missed only five shots in the second half.

In And Out Of The Lineup

Jordan Latham returned to the Loyola rotation for the first time since December 28 at Bucknell after missing seven games following a foot injury prior to the January 2 game. Latham entered the game with 13:05 to go in the first half and 16 seconds later blocked a shot. He played 15 minutes and finished with two blocks.

On the other hand, Dylon Cormier did not start for the first time in his college career and was also held scoreless for the first time. Cormier was injured in practice earlier this week and did not play in the first half against Niagara.

Fastest To 15

Loyola’s win over Niagara was the Greyhounds’ 15th of the season, marking their fastest path to 15 victories since joining Division I for the 1981-1982 season. The Greyhounds’ arrival at 15 wins came by a wide margin over the previous best.

The 2006-2007 squad, which was Jimmy Patsos’ third at the school, set the previous standard, reaching 15 wins in 26 games, six more than this year’s team.

Through 20

Loyola’s 15-5 start through its first 20 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 1970-1971 when Nap Doherty’s Greyhounds had the same 15-5 mark and went on to finish 19-7 and win the Mason-Dixon Conference Championship.

The best start through 20 games came in 1940-1941 when the squad led by Emil ‘Lefty’ Reitz went 17-3 through 20. The 1940-1941 team finished 19-4.

Good MAAC Start

With wins in eight of its first 10 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 MAAC start was 7-3 in both 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.

Etherly’s Last Six

Erik Etherly continued his solid play of late with 18 points in Friday night’s victory at Niagara. The game marked the third time in the Greyhounds’ last five that he has scored 17 or more points, and he boosted his six-game scoring average to 14.7.

Etherly also has averaged 8.0 rebounds, as well, during the stretch that dates back to the Greyhounds’ first meeting with Canisius on January 7.

The junior forward finished last Sunday’s game against Saint Peter’s with 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots, all game highs. He also was 9-of-12 from the free-throw line, matching his season-best for free throws made.

Last week, in a pair of Loyola wins, Etherly averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds after scoring 12 and pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds against Siena.

Sharper Shooting

Loyola recorded its second-best shooting performance of the season Friday night at Niagara, finishing the game 21-of-40, a 52.5-percent clip. The number was buoyed significantly by an 11-of-16, 68.8-percent, mark in the second half.

The Greyhounds’ second-half numbers represented their best 20 minutes of the season. Meanwhile, Loyola made 80-percent (24-of-30) of its free throws, as well, on Friday night, their best free-throw shooting performance of the season.

Sharing The Rock

R.J. Williams finished Friday night with a career-high seven assists, half of the Greyhounds’ 14, eclipsing his previous best of six that came on December 1, 2011, against Marist.

Williams also scored eight points, five in the second half. Williams finished 4-of-6 at the free-throw line, going 3-of-4 in the last two minutes of action.

Last Time Out

Niagara took a 46-44 lead on an Antoine Mason three with 8:06 to play, but the Greyhounds went on a 15-2 run to lead by 11 on two Justin Drummond free throws with 1:58 on the clock. The Greyhounds went 9-of-11 from the foul line in the last two minutes to secure a 69-57 victory.

Drummond finished with 21 points, and Erik Ethelry added 18, and Robert Olson chipped in 11. Drummond had a career-high four steals, and R.J. Williams contributed a career-best seven assists to go with eight points.

Olson’s Last six

After a stretch of not scoring in double figures for five consecutive games, Robert Olson has led Loyola in the points column over the last six.

The junior guard scored what was then a season-high 19 at Mount St. Mary’s, but in Loyola’s next five games  – at St. Bonaventure, Kentucky and Bucknell and home versus Niagara and Manhattan – Olson scored nine points twice and eight points three times.

Since then, however, his low total is 11, coming Friday at Niagara. Olson is averaging 15.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game during the recent stretch. He is shooting .571 from the field (32-of-56) and a more impressive .555 (20-of-36) from 3-point range.

During the five-game stretch, Olson has been particularly effective in the second half.

He scored a career-high 21 points last Sunday at Iona, making 8-of-13 shots and 5-of-8 from behind the arc. On Thursday night versus Siena, Olson tallied eight points during Loyola’s 22-2 run and finished with 16.

Filling In The Stat Sheet

Anthony Winbush gave the Greyhounds 26 solid minutes off the bench last Sunday afternoon against Saint Peter’s, putting up good numbers in just about every statistical category.

The junior forward led all players with a career-high five assists, while he was 3-of-3 from the field and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line for a season-best nine points. He also had five rebounds, three on the offensive glass.

In Loyola’s last five games, in which the Greyhounds are 4-1, Winbush’s minutes per game have increased to 20.6, and his scoring is up to 5.2. He is also third on the team in that span with 4.4 rebounds per contest.

FG Percentage Getting It Done

While not the most glamorous mark in the box score, Loyola is 12-0 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 251st out of 338 teams in NCAA Division I with a .415 field goal percentage, and they are one of just two teams (joining Robert Morris) to have 14 or more wins and rank 250 or higher in the category.

Stretch Run

Loyola used its largest run of the season to rally from seven down and defeat Siena, 66-55. The Saints took a 47-40 advantage with 10:35 to play, but a Dylon Cormier three 25 ticks of the clock later, after a Justin Drummond offensive rebound, sparked a 22-2 run that saw the Greyhounds take a 62-49 lead with under three minutes remaining.

Dylon Cormier and Robert Olson each scored eight points during the run, a stretch Loyola also turned up the defensive intensity. The Saints had seven turnovers in that nearly eight-minute run, and they were just 1-of-9 from the field as Loyola outscored them by 20.

Identical Numbers In Sweep Of Saints

Loyola did not shoot the ball particularly well in either of its wins this season against Siena. In fact the Greyhounds had identical nights from the field, going 23-of-61 (.377) in both games.

Moreover, they scored 66 in both outings against the Saints. In December, the Greyhounds made eight 3-pointers versus Siena, compared to five on Thursday. But, on Thursday, they sank 15 free throws as opposed to 12 in Albany.

All The Way Back

Loyola trailed by 15 points with 16:42 to play in the second half when two Keith Matthews free throws gave Fairfield a 45-30 lead on January 13. The Greyhounds, however, outscored the Stags 36-18 from that point forward to win, 66-63.

The 15-point deficit overcome was the largest erased by a Loyola team since the Greyhounds came back from a 20-point Coppin State lead in the first half on December 10, 2008, to defeat the Eagles, 73-70.

Second In Road Wins

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

Cleveland State leads the nation with eight, while the Greyhounds’ seven wins away from Reitz Arena are matched with fellow Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference side Iona, Lehigh, Middle Tennessee State, No. 15/14 Murray State, Oral Roberts and Wagner for the second place with seven.

The seven road wins also match Loyola’s total from all of last year when it was 7-8 away from home.

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 a pair of blocks against Niagara, Walker now has 119 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, nearly a full rebound more per game that second-place Canisius (13.2).

Despite the team ranking, no Greyhounds player is higher than seventh in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Erik Etherly is seventh with 2.5, while Justin Drummond is 13th with 2.2, just ahead of teammate Dylon Cormier in 14th.

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

3-Point Shooting Back On Track

In its first MAAC loss of the season, a 66-61 defeat on January 2 against Niagara, the Greyhounds shot just 4-of-20 from 3-point range, its worst effort from behind the arc since going 2-of-14 at UMBC on November 17.

Loyola improved by 21 percentage points against Manhattan, going 7-of-17, and it then turned in its third-best 3-point shooting outing of the season on Saturday versus Canisius. The Greyhounds made 9-of-17 (.529), behind only their 6-of-11 (.545) at George Washington and 8-of-15 (.533) versus Marist. The Greyhounds were then .500 from 3-point range (7-of-14) against Fairfield.

Robert Olson and Dylon Cormier did most of the damage against the Golden Griffins and Stags. Olson was 7-of-11, and Cormier made 5-of-10.

Etherly As A Distributor

Against Niagara and Manhattan, Erik Etherly tied or set career-highs in assists, and the 6-foot-7 forward leads the team in assists through 15 games this year.

On Thursday against Manhattan, Etherly had a career-best seven assists, eclipsing his previous mark of four, a number he has posted twice this year, including Monday against Niagara.

This year, Etherly has 36 assists, an average of 2.4 per game, tops on the team. He also leads the Greyhounds in rebounds with 7.5 a contest, and he is the only player in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to lead his team in both rebounds and assists.

Against the Jaspers, Etherly scored eight points and led all players with seven assists and six rebounds. He also had a block and a steal.

Keeping Them Close

For the third time this season, and the second time in three games, Loyola won a game in which neither team led by more than seven points. Manhattan’s largest advantage on Thursday was just four points, while the Greyhounds were never up by more than six.

At Bucknell on December 28, Loyola never led by more than five, and the Bison were only up three on occasions. In November, the Greyhounds defeated New Hampshire on the road in a contest separated by no more than seven.

This year, Loyola is 8-2 in games that are decided by 10 or fewer points.

Second Time With Twenty

Justin Drummond topped the 20-point plateau for the second time in four games when he led all players with 23 points on Monday night against Niagara. The 23 points were his second-most in a game during his career at Loyola, three behind the 26 he scored on December 18 at St. Bonaventure.

Drummond made 9-of-16 shots form the field and 4-of-5 from the line against the Purple Eagles.

Drummond also led all players Monday with nine rebounds and five offensive boards, and nine of his 23 points came as a direct result of his own offensive rebounds.

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

The Greyhounds return to Reitz Arena on Friday, February 3, for a 7 o’clock contest against Rider University that will be aired nationally on ESPNU.

Game Data

The Greyhounds go on the road for a pair of games this weekend in Western New York, starting with a 7 o’clock tip-off at Niagara University on Friday, January 27.

Series History

Niagara handed Loyola its first MAAC loss of the season when the teams met on January 2, a 66-61 decision in Reitz Arena. Loyola overcame a 12-point Niagara lead to go up by four on two occasions in the second half, but the Purple Eagles held the Greyhounds scoreless for the last 3:24 of the game.

Erik Etherly put Loyola ahead 61-57 with a fast-break dunk at 3:35, but Juan’ya Green made a three just over a minute later, and Antoine Mason’s layup with 61 ticks left gave Niagara the lead for good.

The Purple Eagles lead the all-time series, 34-15, and have won 10 of the last 11 meetings between the teams. Loyola’s victory on February 25, 2011, at Niagara, snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Purple Eagles.

Filling In The Stat Sheet

Anthony Winbush gave the Greyhounds 26 solid minutes off the bench Sunday afternoon against Saint Peter’s, putting up good numbers in just about every statistical category.

The junior forward led all players with a career-high five assists, while he was 3-of-3 from the field and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line for a season-best nine points. He also had five rebounds, three on the offensive glass.

In Loyola’s last five games, in which the Greyhounds are 4-1, Winbush’s minutes per game have increased to 20.6, and his scoring is up to 5.2. He is also third on the team in that span with 4.4 rebounds per contest.

Post Presence

Erik Etherly provided a strong game in the paint versus Saint Peter’s, scoring 13 first-half points to help Loyola take a nine-point lead at the break.

The junior forward finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots, all game highs. He also was 9-of-12 from the free-throw line, matching his season-best for free throws made.

Last week, in a pair of Loyola wins, Etherly averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds after scoring 12 and pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds against Siena.

Through 19

Loyola’s 14-5 start through its first 19 games of the season ranks is tied for the third-best start during that many games in program history. It is the best 19-game start since the Greyhounds moved up to NCAA Division I for the 1981-1982 season, improving on the 11-8 mark that the 1984-1985 team put together.

The start is the best since 1970-1971 when Nap Doherty’s Greyhounds had the same 14-5 mark and went on to finish 19-7 and win the Mason-Dixon Conference Championship.

The best start through 19 games came in 1940-1941 when the squad led by Emil ‘Lefty’ Reitz went 16-3 through 19. The 1940-1941 team finished 19-4.

Good MAAC Start

With wins in seven of its first nine Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games this season, Loyola is off to its best start in league play since opening 7-2 in 2006-2007. That year, the Greyhounds lost their conference opener and then reeled off seven in a row.

FG Percentage Getting It Done

While not the most glamorous mark in the box score, Loyola is 11-0 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 rank 251st out of 338 teams in NCAA Division I with a .415 field goal percentage, and they are one of just two teams (joining Robert Morris) to have 14 or more wins and rank 250 or higher in the category.

Brooks Builds Playing Time

Juilus Brooks had his most productive game of the season Sunday versus the Peacocks, playing 14 minutes, his most action of the year. Brooks tallied five points, making both of his field goals, and he was second on the team with six rebounds.

He pulled down four offensive rebounds, putting two back immediate for his pair of field goals, and he also blocked a shot.

Olson’s Last Five

After a stretch of not scoring in double figures for five consecutive games, Robert Olson has led Loyola in the points column over the last five.

The junior guard scored what was then a season-high 19 at Mount St. Mary’s, but in Loyola’s next five games  – at St. Bonaventure, Kentucky and Bucknell and home versus Niagara and Manhattan – Olson scored nine points twice and eight points three times.

Since then, however, his low total is 15, coming in a win at Fairfield where he scored seven points in a 23-second stretch with under two minutes left that took Loyola from down seven to tied and against Saint Peter’s.

Olson is averaging 16.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game during the recent stretch. He is shooting .580 from the field (29-of-50) and a more impressive .581 (18-of-31) from 3-point range.

During the five-game stretch, Olson has been particularly effective in the second half. He has scored 69.9-percent of his points (58-of-83) after halftime.

He scored a career-high 21 points last Sunday at Iona, making 8-of-13 shots and 5-of-8 from behind the arc. On Thursday night versus Siena, Olson tallied eight points during Loyola’s 22-2 run and finished with 16.

Stretch Run

Loyola used its largest run of the season to rally from seven down and defeat Siena, 66-55. The Saints took a 47-40 advantage with 10:35 to play, but a Dylon Cormier three 25 ticks of the clock later, after a Justin Drummond offensive rebound, sparked a 22-2 run that saw the Greyhounds take a 62-49 lead with under three minutes remaining.

Dylon Cormier and Robert Olson each scored eight points during the run, a stretch Loyola also turned up the defensive intensity. The Saints had seven turnovers in that nearly eight-minute run, and they were just 1-of-9 from the field as Loyola outscored them by 20.

Last Time Out

Erik Etherly scored 13 of his game-high 19 points in the first half and helped the Greyhounds take a 36-27 halftime advantage en route to a 65-54 win over Saint Peter’s. Robert Olson added 15 points, and Anthony Winbush tallied nine to go with five assists and five rebounds.

Loyola went on a 20-6 run that lasted most of the final eight minutes in the first half with Etherly scoring nine in that stretch.

Scoring Off Drummond’s Second Chances

Justin Drummond grabbed four offensive rebounds on Thursday, and the Greyhounds scored following each one. Drummond immediate put the ball back up and in after two of his rebounds for four of his nine points. He also kicked the ball out to R.J. Williams who found Dylon Cormier on the left side for a three after a long Drummond rebound with just over 10 minutes to left in the game.

Drummond also grabbed an offensive rebound after a missed free throw, and following a Loyola timeout, Robert Olson scored a driving layup with 54 seconds remaining. In all, the Greyhounds scored nine of their 17 second-chance points off Drummond rebounds.

Bench Press

Loyola played just three players – Julius Brooks, Justin Drummond and Anthony Winbush – off its bench on Thursday, but the Greyhounds outscored Siena’s subs, 17-0. Drummond scored nine, and Winbush matched his season-high with eight.

12 Plus 12 Equals Number 24

Erik Ethelry turned in a combined point-rebound performance worthy of his number 24 on Thursday night. He logged his seventh double-double of the year with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds versus the Saints.

Etherly, who also had three blocked shots and three steals, secured five of his rebounds on the offensive end.

Loyola is 6-1 this season when Etherly had a double-double performance, the only loss coming when Etherly had 14 points and 11 rebounds at then-No. 3 Kentucky.

In the Greyhounds’ last four games, dating back to the January 7 contest against Canisius, Etherly is averaging 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds.

Identical Numbers In Sweep Of Saints

Loyola did not shoot the ball particularly well in either of its wins this season against Siena. In fact the Greyhounds had identical nights from the field, going 23-of-61 (.377) in both games.

Moreover, they scored 66 in both outings against the Saints. In December, the Greyhounds made eight 3-pointers versus Siena, compared to five on Thursday. But, on Thursday, they sank 15 free throws as opposed to 12 in Albany.

Rebounding Rejuvenated

Loyola was outrebounded by 15, its worst showing of the season, last Sunday at Iona, but the Greyhounds bounced back against Siena. The Saints feature the nation’s leading rebounder, O.D. Anosike, and while he had 11 boards, it was more than a full rebound below his average.

Anoskie accounted for 11 of Siena’s 29 rebounds, while Loyola had 40. Erik Ethelry pulled down 12 to lead all players, and Shane Walker grabbed seven. Three other Loyola players had four each.

All The Way Back

Loyola trailed by 15 points with 16:42 to play in the second half when two Keith Matthews free throws gave Fairfield a 45-30 lead last Friday night. The Greyhounds, however, outscored the Stags 36-18 from that point forward to win, 66-63.

The 15-point deficit overcome was the largest erased by a Loyola team since the Greyhounds came back from a 20-point Coppin State lead in the first half on December 10, 2008, to defeat the Eagles, 73-70.

Second In Road Wins

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

Cleveland State leads the nation with eight, while the Greyhounds’ seven wins away from Reitz Arena are matched with fellow Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference side Iona, Lehigh, Middle Tennessee State, No. 15/14 Murray State, Oral Roberts and Wagner for the second place with seven.

The seven road wins also match Loyola’s total from all of last year when it was 7-8 away from home.

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.

Cormier’s Steals Help The Cause

Robert Olson’s 7-0 run would not have been possible if not for two Dylon Cormier steals in the backcourt. Cormier tied up Rakim Sanders on the inbound pass after Olson’s first bucket, creating a jump ball with the possession arrow in Loyola’s favor.

Cormier then stole the ball from Fairfield’s Derek Needham after Olson’s second jumper, and he fed a pass to Olson for the game-tying three.

Cormier was one off his career-high with four steals against the Stags. He set his career-best of five just one game prior, against Canisius.

With his nine steals in the Greyhounds’ last two games, Cormier has moved into the MAAC lead with 2.0 steals per game. Loyola tops the conference, averaging 8.6 a contest.

Cormier also tied his career-best with a team-high four assists against Fairfield.

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.

Walker now has 117 blocks in his career, matching the total of George Sereikas from 1989-1993. 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 14.4, more than a full offensive board a game higher than second-place Canisius (13.2).

Despite the team ranking, no Greyhounds player is higher than sixth in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Erik Etherly is sixth with 2.6, while Justin Drummond is 10th with 2.3, just ahead of teammate Dylon Cormier in 13th.

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

3-Point Shooting Back On Track

In its first MAAC loss of the season, a 66-61 defeat on January 2 against Niagara, the Greyhounds shot just 4-of-20 from 3-point range, its worst effort from behind the arc since going 2-of-14 at UMBC on November 17.

Loyola improved by 21 percentage points against Manhattan, going 7-of-17, and it then turned in its third-best 3-point shooting outing of the season on Saturday versus Canisius. The Greyhounds made 9-of-17 (.529), behind only their 6-of-11 (.545) at George Washington and 8-of-15 (.533) versus Marist. The Greyhounds were then .500 from 3-point range (7-of-14) against Fairfield.

Robert Olson and Dylon Cormier did most of the damage against the Golden Griffins and Stags. Olson was 7-of-11, and Cormier made 5-of-10.

Etherly As A Distributor

Against Niagara and Manhattan, Erik Etherly tied or set career-highs in assists, and the 6-foot-7 forward leads the team in assists through 15 games this year.

On Thursday against Manhattan, Etherly had a career-best seven assists, eclipsing his previous mark of four, a number he has posted twice this year, including Monday against Niagara.

This year, Etherly has 36 assists, an average of 2.4 per game, tops on the team. He also leads the Greyhounds in rebounds with 7.5 a contest, and he is the only player in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to lead his team in both rebounds and assists.

Against the Jaspers, Etherly scored eight points and led all players with seven assists and six rebounds. He also had a block and a steal.

Keeping Them Close

For the third time this season, and the second time in three games, Loyola won a game in which neither team led by more than seven points. Manhattan’s largest advantage on Thursday was just four points, while the Greyhounds were never up by more than six.

At Bucknell on December 28, Loyola never led by more than five, and the Bison were only up three on occasions. In November, the Greyhounds defeated New Hampshire on the road in a contest separated by no more than seven.

This year, Loyola is 8-2 in games that are decided by 10 or fewer points.

Second Time With Twenty

Justin Drummond topped the 20-point plateau for the second time in four games when he led all players with 23 points on Monday night against Niagara. The 23 points were his second-most in a game during his career at Loyola, three behind the 26 he scored on December 18 at St. Bonaventure.

Drummond made 9-of-16 shots form the field and 4-of-5 from the line against the Purple Eagles.

Drummond also led all players Monday with nine rebounds and five offensive boards, and nine of his 23 points came as a direct result of his own offensive rebounds.

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 continues its road swing through the Buffalo area on Sunday, January 29, when it takes on Canisius College at 2:15 p.m.

The Greyhounds return to Reitz Arena on Friday, February 3, for a 7 o’clock contest against Rider University that will be aired nationally on ESPNU.

Game Data

Loyola University Maryland returns to the road for the first of two games this weekend when it takes on Fairfield University on Friday, January 13, at 9 p.m., in Bridgeport, Conn.

The game will be played at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, the site of last year’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships.

On The Tube

Loyola and Fairfield will play Friday in front of a national television audience. The game will be broadcast ESPNU as part of ESPNU College Basketball Built by the Home Depot. Doug Sherman will handle play-by-play duties, and he will be joined by Tim O’Toole who will provide color analysis.

The game is the seventh Loyola has played on television this season, and it is the first of at least four the Greyhounds will play during league action.

Jesuit Basketball Spotlight

Loyola’s game against Fairfield is the second of six games the Greyhounds will 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 defeated Canisius in its last game, and in addition to today’s game, they will also face fellow MAAC Jesuits Fairfield (home, February 12) and Saint Peter’s (home, January 22; away, February 5) and Canisius (away, January 29).

Go to www.ajcunet.edu/jesuitbasketball for more information on the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight.

Series History

Loyola and Fairfield will meet for the 51st time on Friday with the Stags holding a 35-15 advantage.

The teams split a pair of games last season, each winning on its home floor. The Greyhounds edged Fairfield in a 66-65 thriller on January 14, 2011. J’hared Hall had 17 points off the Loyola bench and knocked down the go-ahead 3-pointer with just over two minutes left to break a 61-61 tie.

Fairfield defeated Loyola, 65-55, on December 5, 2010, the Greyhounds’ most recent trip to Harbor Yard.

Good MAAC Start

With wins in four of its five Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games this season, Loyola is off to its best start in league play since opening 7-1 in 2006-2007. That year, the Greyhounds lost their conference opener and then reeled off seven in a row.

The 4-1 mark is tied for the best start to MAAC play through five games, matching that of the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 teams.

Through 15

Loyola’s 11-4 start through its first 15 games of the season ranks as the fourth best start during in that many games in program history. It is the best 15-game start since the Greyhounds moved up to NCAA Division I for the 1981-1982 season, improving on the 10-5 mark that Jimmy Patsos’ 2005-2006 team put together.

The start is the best since 1970-1971 when Nap Doherty’s Greyhounds had the same 11-4 mark and went on to finish 19-7 and win the Mason-Dixon Conference Championship.

The best start through 15 games came in 1930-1931 when the team coached by Walter Comerford played just 15 total games and finished the year 14-1. Two squads led by Emil ‘Lefty’ Reitz went 12-3 through 15. The 1940-1941 team finished 19-4, and the following year’s team ended the season 18-4 as Mason-Dixon champions.

3-Point Shooting Back On Track

In its first MAAC loss of the season, a 66-61 defeat on January 2 against Niagara, the Greyhounds shot just 4-of-20 from 3-point range, its worst effort from behind the arc since going 2-of-14 at UMBC on November 17.

Loyola improved by 21 percentage points against Manhattan, going 7-of-17, and it then turned in its third-best 3-point shooting outing of the season on Saturday versus Canisius. The Greyhounds made 9-of-17 (.529), behind only their 6-of-11 (.545) at George Washington and 8-of-15 (.533) versus Marist.

Robert Olson and Dylon Cormier did most of the damage against the Golden Griffins. Olson as 4-of-6, and Cormier made 3-of-5.

Olson On A Roll

Much of Loyola’s improved 3-point shooting over its last two games is thanks to Robert Olson. Entering last Thursday’s game against Manhattan, Olson had made just 4-of-18 threes (.222) dating back to the December 18 game at St. Bonaventure.

He was 3-of-3 versus the Jaspers, making all three in the second half, and he then made his first three from downtown against Canisius, finishing the game 4-of-6 against the Golden Griffins.

Olson leads Loyola with 23 3-pointers made this season and a .397 3-point field goal percentage.

Picking Up Where He Left Off

Last Thursday against Manhattan, Dylon Cormier was mired in a stretch of 115 minutes, 46 seconds without making a 3-pointer before he hit the game-winning trey with 3.1 seconds left to give the Greyhounds a 61-60 victory.

Prior to that shot, he had missed his last 10 3-point attempts: his last three at Bucknell, all five against Niagara and his first two versus Manhattan.

The game-winner sparked Cormier who went 3-of-5 from 3-point range and finisehd 8-of-13 from the field in the win over Canisius. He scored a game-high 23 points for his fifth 20-plus point effort of the season and sixth of his career. Cormier scored 16 of his points in the second half and was 6-of-10 from the field after the break.

Career Assist Day, Too

In addition to his 23 points, Cormier recorded a career-high five assists versus Canisius, helping Loyola to a season-best 18 helpers in the game. More impressively, Cormier did not commit a turnover in 32 minutes of action against the Golden Griffins.

Doing The Little Things

Anthony Winbush saw 25 minutes of action on Saturday against Canisius, and although he scored only four points, he come up big for the Greyhounds in several other areas.

Winbush pulled down six rebounds versus the Golden Griffins and played on both the perimeter and in the post for the Greyhounds.

Dominating On The Boards

All five Loyola players who saw 15 minutes or more of action against Canisius had four or more rebounds, and four had five or greater. The Greyhounds controlled a 42-24 advantage on the boards, and they allowed Canisius just six offensive rebounds while collecting 16 of their own.

Erik Etherly led the way with seven boards, while Dylon Cormier and Anthony Winbush each had six.

Loyola had 16 offensive rebounds in the game and scored 20 second-chance points.

Shooting In A Critical Stretch

Canisius cut Loyola’s one-time 15-point lead to just four with 10:14 to play, but Robert Olson scored the next seven points, and Dylon Cormier added a three after a Golden Griffins’ bucket to put Loyola up 12.

During the stretch, the Greyhounds made all four of its shots, while the Loyola defense held Canisius to 1-of-5 from the field. Loyola did not give up an offensive rebound during that span, and the Golden Griffins had just two second-chance opportunities in the entire second half.

Last Time Out

Dylon Cormier and Robert Olson combined to score 39 points, 10 of them during a 10-2 Greyhounds run that extended a four-point advantage to 11 late in the game.

Canisius, which trailed by 15 after an Anthony Winbush offensive rebound and putback, cut the Greyhounds’ lead to four, on an Alshwan Hymes three with 10:14 to play. The Golden Griffins had a chance to make it a two-point game on their next possession, but Harold Washington’s jumper went off the mark.

Olson scored the next seven points, his three pushing the Loyola lead to 64-53 with 7:28 to go before Washington momentarily stemmed the tide with a bucket at 7:11. Cormier, however, knocked down a three for Loyola to put its lead in double digits for good in a 77-62 win.

R.J. Steps Up Scoring

R.J. Williams scored Loyola’s first five points last Thursday night against Manhattan, a modest accomplishment, but the freshman point guard finished with a career-high 11 points.

He tallied nine in the first half, leading all scorers, to help the Greyhounds take a 31-30 advantage at the break. The 11 points eclipsed his previous best of eight that he tallied in back-to-back games against Florida Gulf Coast and Marist.

Williams is averaging 4.1 points per game, but in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference contests, his points per game mark rises to more than six.

Etherly As A Distributor

Against Niagara and Manhattan, Erik Etherly tied or set career-highs in assists, and the 6-foot-7 forward leads the team in assists through 15 games this year.

On Thursday against Manhattan, Etherly had a career-best seven assists, eclipsing his previous mark of four, a number he has posted twice this year, including Monday against Niagara.

This year, Etherly has 36 assists, an average of 2.4 per game, tops on the team. He also leads the Greyhounds in rebounds with 7.5 a contest, and he is the only player in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to lead his team in both rebounds and assists.

Against the Jaspers, Etherly scored eight points and led all players with seven assists and six rebounds. He also had a block and a steal.

Closing In On Second

After recording three blocks against Manhattan and seven in the Greyhounds’ last three games –  also three at Bucknell and one against Niagara – Shane Walker has moved closer to second place all-time at Loyola in career blocked shots.

With 114 during his three-year tenure as a Greyhound, Walker is three swats from tying George Sereikas (1989-1993) for second with 117. Brian Carroll (1997-2001) is the all-time leader with 213.

Walker leads the Greyhounds with 21 blocks this season and is sixth in the MAAC, averaging 1.5 per game.

Meanwhile, teammate Erik Etherly has moved into the school’s all-time top 10 and is tied for ninth with Michael Tuck (2003-2008) with 51.

Finding An Old Form

The Greyhounds were encouraged by the contributions against Manhattan of senior co-captain J’hared Hall who made a pair of 3-pointers off the bench, one in each half. The treys were the first and second of the season for Hall who was the MAAC Sixth Player of the Year in 2010-2011.

After not playing in either of the last two games, Hall scored six in six minutes off the bench against Manhattan, a team he hit six 3-pointers in a game against last season.

Keeping Them Close

For the third time this season, and the second time in three games, Loyola won a game in which neither team led by more than seven points. Manhattan’s largest advantage on Thursday was just four points, while the Greyhounds were never up by more than six.

At Bucknell on December 28, Loyola never led by more than five, and the Bison were only up three on occasions. In November, the Greyhounds defeated New Hampshire on the road in a contest separated by no more than seven.

This year, Loyola is 8-2 in games that are decided by 10 or fewer points.

Statistics Don’t Matter If You Are Winning

Our of 13 individual statistical categories listed by the MAAC, Loyola players appear in the top five of just four: Erik Etherly (field-goal percentage and offensive rebounds) and Dylon Cormier (points per game and steals).

The Greyhounds, however, have several players in the top 15 of most categories, accentuating the balanced nature of the team statistically.

Everyone On The Offensive Boards

Loyola leads the MAAC in offensive rebounding as a team, averaging 14.6, more than a full offensive board a game higher than second-place Niagara (13.3).

Despite the team ranking, no Greyhounds player is higher than eighth in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Erik Etherly is 11th with 2.5, while Dylon Cormier is ninth with 2.4, and Justin Drummond is 11th at 2.3.

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

Second Time With Twenty

Justin Drummond topped the 20-point plateau for the second time in four games when he led all players with 23 points on Monday night against Niagara. The 23 points were his second-most in a game during his career at Loyola, three behind the 26 he scored on December 18 at St. Bonaventure.

Drummond made 9-of-16 shots form the field and 4-of-5 from the line against the Purple Eagles.

Drummond also led all players Monday with nine rebounds and five offensive boards, and nine of his 23 points came as a direct result of his own offensive rebounds.

Nine Is Fine

The Greyhounds’ victory at Bucknell was their ninth of the season, setting a program standard for wins before the calendar year turns.

Loyola’s previous best for wins in November and December was seven, a number Jimmy Patsos-led teams totaled during the 2005-2006 and 2009-2010 seasons.

Fourth In Road Wins

Loyola’s six road wins have them tied for fourth in all of NCAA Division I for victories away from its home court.

Fellow Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference side Iona is tied with No. 15/14 Murray State, Cleveland State and Wagner for the national lead with seven. Robert Morris, Lehigh and the Greyhounds all have six true road wins.

Last year, the Greyhounds finished the season with a 7-8 record away from home.

Road Warriors

The game at Bucknell closed a six-game road trip for the Greyhounds, a venture away from Baltimore on which Loyola finished 4-2 with its only losses coming at St. Bonaventure and No. 3 Kentucky.

The roadtrip is the longest in school Division I history (since 1981-1982), stretching longer than multiple five-game swings, the most recent coming from December 21, 2008-January 5, 2009. That trip took Loyola from Northern California (UC-Davis) to North Carolina (Duke and North Carolina State) and Western New York (Canisius and Niagara). The Greyhounds went 2-3 against those teams.

A Little Bit Of Everything

Erik Etherly led Loyola in four statistical categories at Bucknell: points (18), rebounds (8), assists (4) and blocked shots (4). While it was atypical to lead the Greyhounds in all of the categories, Etherly has routinely topped the team in at least one category this season. He was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Week on January 2.

He has led the team in rebounding eight times (including ties); scoring, 4; assists, 5; steals, 4; blocked shots, 5.

Currently, Etherly paces the team in rebounds (95 total, 7.9 per game) and assists (26, 2.2), and he is second in scoring (156, 13.0) and minutes played (370, 30.8).

He is the only player in the MAAC currently leading his team in rebounds and assists.

Etherly has scored in double-figures in 21 of the Greyhounds’ last 23 games, going back to January 2011. He has averaged 14.1 in those contests.

Streak Snapped

St. Bonaventure University defeated Loyola 76-66, snapping the Greyhounds’ eight-game winning streak. Loyola had reeled off the span of wins since falling in its season-opener at Wake Forest.

The winning streak was the longest in the school’s NCAA Division I history (since 1981-82), and it is the longest since the 1964-1965 team won eight in a row during January and February.

Honors Abound For Cormier

Loyola sophomore guard Dylon Cormier picked up a couple of awards for his recent play, earning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week and Jesuit Basketball Spotlight National Player of the Week honors on December 12, both for the first time in his career.

Cormier averaged 20.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in a pair of wins over George Washington University and Mount St. Mary’s University.

This season, Cormier leads Loyola in scoring (16.8), 3-point percentage (.424) and steals (1.8) and is third in rebounding (5.0).

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 early 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

The Greyhounds continue their road swing with a 3:30 p.m. game on Sunday in New Rochelle, N.Y., at Iona College.

UMBC head men’s lacrosse coach Don Zimmerman today announced the Retrievers’ 2012 schedule which features seven home contests in a 12-game slate.

The Retrievers leave the state only once before an April 7 date at America East foe Vermont. UMBC opens the campaign on Sat., Feb. 18 when they
entertain Robert Morris at 1:00 p.m.  It will be the first meeting ever between the Retrievers and the Colonials.

After a Feb. 26 date at Rutgers, UMBC returns to the Baltimore area for six consecutive games.  Zimmerman’s club with host another first-time
opponent in Fairfield on Saturday., March 3, then welcome 2011 national finalist Maryland on Tuesday, March 6 at 7:00 p.m.

UMBC will then play Johns Hopkins at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium in the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic on Saturday, March 10.

The Retrievers have a rare weekend off before entertaining Loyola (Md.) on Saturday, March 24. The contest with the Greyhounds will be the first
between the two schools since 2005.

America East Conference play opens on Saturday, March 31 when defending league champion Hartford visits UMBC Stadium on Saturday, March 31.  The Retrievers conclude the non-conference portion of the slate at Towson on Wednesday, April 4 before playing the final four regular season games against league rivals.

“It is a challenging and diverse schedule, playing teams representing the NEC, Big East, ECAC, ACC, Colonial as well as an independent in Johns
Hopkins,” Zimmerman said. “That competition will prepare us well for the America East Conference, which continues to develop into one of the most competitive conferences in lacrosse.”

Notes: There are four lacrosse “double-headers” at UMBC Stadium- on March 3, March 24, March 31, and April 14… The final three are day-night affairs with the women playing at noon and the men going under the lights at 7:00 p.m…. The meeting vs. Maryland will be No. 35 between the two schools, while Loyola and UMBC will face off for the 30th time and Towson and the Retrievers meet for the 43rd time… UMBC will seek its ninth America East Tournament berth in nine league seasons in 2012… The Retrievers have never been below the .500 mark in league play since starting AEC competition in 2004.

2012 UMBC Men’s Lacrosse Schedule

January
Sat. 28 Limestone (scrimmage) 12:30 p.m.

February
Sat. 4 Mount St. Mary’s (scrimmage) 1:00 p.m. 
Sat. 11 at Drexel (scrimmage) 1:00 p.m.
Sat. 18 Robert Morris,  1:00 p.m.
Sun. 26 at Rutgers, noon.

March
Sat. 3 Fairfield, 3:00 p.m.
Tues., 6 Maryland, 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 10 vs. Johns Hopkins #, 4:00 p.m.
Sat. 24 Loyola (Md.) 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 31 Hartford*, 7:00 p.m.

April
Wed. 4 at Towson, 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 7 at Vermont*, 1:00 p.m.
Sat. 14 Stony Brook*, 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 21 Albany*, 1:00 p.m.
Sat. 28 at Binghamton*, 7:00 p.m.

May
Wed. 2 America East Semifinals, TBA
Sat. 5, America East Championship, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

# Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic at M&T Bank Stadium
*America East Conference contest