BALTIMORE (Interstat) — Loyola Maryland used a dominant second half to defeat Holy Cross 83-73 in a Patriot League men’s basketball game Sunday at Reitz Arena. The Greyhounds, who led 30-27 at halftime, erupted for 53 points after intermission to pull away from the Crusaders before a crowd of 1,202. Holy Cross scored 46 in the second half but could not close the gap. Loyola Maryland improved to 11-16 overall, while Holy Cross fell to 9-18. The Greyhounds scored 11 points off turnovers and shot efficiently after the break to secure the victory.

BALTIMORE (Interstat) — In a Patriot League men’s basketball matchup defined by offensive surges and a standout individual performance, Loyola Maryland pulled away in the second half to defeat Holy Cross 83-73 on Sunday at Reitz Arena. A crowd of 1,202 saw the Greyhounds, led by a dominant all-around effort from guard Braeden Speed, overcome a narrow halftime deficit with a 53-point second-half explosion. The victory improved Loyola Maryland to 11-16 overall, while Holy Cross fell to 9-18. The game’s pivotal stretch came midway through the second half. After Holy Cross forward Gabe Warren hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 60 with just under eight minutes remaining, Loyola Maryland unleashed a decisive 13-3 run. The burst was fueled by the inside-outside combination of Speed and forward Emmett Adair. Speed, a junior from Phoenix, Arizona, orchestrated the offense with precision, while Adair, a 6-foot-9 sophomore from Sydney, Australia, stretched the floor with his shooting. Adair drained two 3-pointers during the run, and Jordan Stiemke added another, transforming a tense contest into a 73-63 Loyola Maryland lead with 3:58 to play. The Crusaders could not mount a sustained response against a Greyhounds defense that tightened when it mattered most. Speed was the catalyst throughout, finishing with 25 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 33 minutes, narrowly missing a triple-double. His ability to penetrate and create for himself and others was the game’s central narrative, especially after halftime. Adair complemented him with 24 points, including six 3-pointers, providing a critical scoring punch from the forward position. Holy Cross was carried by the high-scoring duo of Warren and Aiden Disu. Warren, a sophomore from Plano, Texas, poured in 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Disu, a fellow sophomore from Buda, Texas, added 22 points and six boards. Guard Tyler Boston contributed 15 points for the Crusaders, who scored 46 points in the second half but could not keep pace with Loyola Maryland’s hotter shooting. The first half was a tightly contested affair, with Holy Cross taking a 27-30 lead into the break. The Crusaders established an early edge in the paint, finishing the game with a 34-24 advantage in that category. However, Loyola Maryland’s efficiency from deep and its ability to generate points off turnovers, holding an 11-8 edge, proved more consequential over 40 minutes. Loyola Maryland’s victory defied the pregame over/under line of 144.5, as the teams combined for 156 points. The Greyhounds also covered the spread as 4.5-point favorites, a result aligned with national statistical projections that gave them a 73.3 percent probability to win. The game was a showcase of two of the Patriot League’s top individual talents in Speed and Warren, but it was Speed’s supporting cast, particularly Adair’s perimeter shooting and Stiemke’s 14 points, that made the difference. The win gives Loyola Maryland momentum heading into a Wednesday home game against Army. Holy Cross, meanwhile, will look to regroup when it hosts Lafayette on Wednesday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Feb. 28.

BALTIMORE (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum for the Patriot League stretch run will meet Sunday when Loyola Maryland hosts Holy Cross at Reitz Arena. The Greyhounds (10-16, 4-9 Patriot) and Crusaders (9-17, 4-9) enter tied in the conference standings, making the matchup critical for postseason positioning. Both teams are coming off midweek results that reflected their inconsistent seasons. Holy Cross fell 74-70 to league-leading Colgate on Wednesday despite 20 points from Aiden Disu and 17 points and five assists from guard DeAndre Williams. The Crusaders have lost seven of their last nine games. Loyola Maryland snapped a two-game skid with a 68-54 road win at Lafayette on Wednesday, powered by a career-high 26 points from sophomore forward Emmett Adair. Adair has emerged as a key offensive threat for the Greyhounds, averaging 21.4 points over his last five games, including a 27-point performance in a double-overtime win over Lehigh on Feb. 4. Williams has been the steady hand for Holy Cross, scoring in double figures in five of his last eight contests. He logged 31 minutes and led the team in assists in the narrow loss to Colgate. The teams split their two meetings last season, each winning on their home floor. They will conclude the regular season series in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Feb. 28. Sunday’s game will tip off at 2 p.m. EST. Loyola Maryland will host Army on Wednesday, while Holy Cross returns home to face Lafayette.