Army West Point Stuns Loyola University Maryland 87-77 Behind Balanced Attack

In a stunning turn of events, Army handed Loyola Maryland a 10-point loss, 87-77, at Reitz Arena, defying their 333 NET ranking and dealing a significant blow to the Greyhounds' postseason aspirations, considering they had been averaging 76 points per game over their last 5 outings. The Black Knights, who had been struggling mightily, averaging just 63 points per game over their last 5, exploded for 41 in the first half, setting the tone for the upset, and ultimately outscoring Loyola Maryland by 10 points, a margin that will surely raise eyebrows given the pre-game prediction of an 11.5-point Loyola Maryland victory. With this win, Army improves to 11-17, while Loyola Maryland falls to the same record, highlighting the razor-thin margin between these two teams, who have now played each other in a game that will have real consequences for their tournament hopes, with Loyola Maryland's 3-2 record over their last 5 games now looking less impressive.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets, but Army's 41 points in the opening 20 minutes was the difference-maker, as they shot 53% from the field, including 5 three-pointers, and outrebounded Loyola Maryland 18-12, limiting them to just 31 points, 45 fewer than their average over the last 5 games. The second half saw Loyola Maryland attempt to mount a comeback, but Army's balanced attack, which featured 17 points from both Jacen Holloway and Ryan Curry, as well as 14 points and 5 rebounds from Jaxson Bell, proved too much to overcome, as they scored 46 points in the second half, matching Loyola Maryland's total, and securing the 10-point win. The Greyhounds, who had been outscoring their opponents by 0.8 points per game over their last 5, were led by Jacob Theodosiou's 15 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Black Knights' onslaught, which saw them shoot 49% from the field and 40% from three-point range.

The stat line doesn't do justice to the impact that Army's top performers had on the game, particularly Holloway, who hit several big shots in the second half to stave off Loyola Maryland's comeback attempts, including a crucial three-pointer with 5 minutes remaining that pushed the lead to 12 points, and Curry, who provided a spark off the bench, scoring 10 of his 17 points in the second half, and helping to stretch the defense with his 3 three-pointers. Meanwhile, Theodosiou's 15 points for Loyola Maryland were a lone bright spot, as the rest of the team struggled to find their rhythm, with Braeden Speed and Jordan Stiemke combining for just 24 points, 10 fewer than their average over the last 5 games.

As the game unfolded, it became clear that CHD Scout's prediction of an 11.5-point Loyola Maryland victory was off the mark, and the reason for this discrepancy lies in Army's ability to exploit Loyola Maryland's defensive weaknesses, particularly in the paint, where they outscored the Greyhounds 32-20, and from three-point range, where they hit 10 three-pointers, 5 more than Loyola Maryland. The Black Knights' recent form, which had seen them struggle to score, averaging just 63 points per game over their last 5, was a major concern, but they were able to break out of their slump, scoring 87 points, 24 more than their average, and outscoring Loyola Maryland by 10 points, a margin that will surely raise eyebrows given the pre-game prediction.

The prediction model missed the fact that Army's recent struggles were largely due to their tough schedule, which had seen them face off against several high-quality opponents, including Boston University and Colgate, and that they were due for a breakout performance, particularly against a Loyola Maryland team that had been inconsistent on defense, allowing 75.2 points per game over their last 5. The model also failed to account for the impact that Army's balanced attack would have on the game, as they had 4 players score in double figures, including Holloway, Curry, Bell, and another player who scored 10 points, and how it would allow them to control the tempo and dictate the flow of the game.

The win is a significant one for Army, who had been struggling to find their footing, particularly on the road, where they had lost 4 of their last 5, but this victory, which saw them outscore Loyola Maryland by 10 points, will surely give them a much-needed boost of confidence, and could potentially propel them into the tournament conversation, particularly if they can build on this momentum, which has seen them score 87 points, 24 more than their average over the last 5 games. For Loyola Maryland, the loss is a devastating blow, as it drops them to 11-17, and raises serious questions about their tournament hopes, particularly given their recent form, which had seen them win 3 of their last 5, but struggle to score, averaging just 76 points per game over that stretch.

The implications of this game are significant, particularly for Loyola Maryland, who had been hovering around the bubble, but this loss, which saw them outscored by 10 points, will surely drop them out of consideration, at least for the time being, and raise serious questions about their tournament hopes. The Greyhounds' NET ranking, which had been 321, will likely take a hit, and their quad 4 loss will be a major concern, particularly given their recent form, which had seen them win 3 of their last 5, but struggle to score, averaging just 76 points per game over that stretch. For Army, the win is a major boost, and could potentially propel them into the tournament conversation, particularly if they can build on this momentum, which has seen them score 87 points, 24 more than their average over the last 5 games, and outscore Loyola Maryland by 10 points, a margin that will surely raise eyebrows given the pre-game prediction.

In the end, this game will be remembered as a major upset, one that will have real consequences for both teams' tournament hopes, and will serve as a reminder that, in college basketball, anything can happen on any given night, particularly when a team like Army, who had been struggling to score, averaging just 63 points per game over their last 5, can break out of their slump, scoring 87 points, 24 more than their average, and outscoring a team like Loyola Maryland by 10 points, a margin that will surely raise eyebrows given the pre-game prediction. The Black Knights' ability to exploit Loyola Maryland's defensive weaknesses, particularly in the paint, where they outscored the Greyhounds 32-20, and from three-point range, where they hit 10 three-pointers, 5 more than Loyola Maryland, was the key to their victory, and will surely give them a much-needed boost of confidence, as they look to build on this momentum, and make a push for the tournament, where they will face off against other teams who have been struggling to find their footing, like Loyola Maryland, who must regroup, and find a way to overcome their recent struggles, if they hope to make a push for the tournament.