American defeats Loyola MD 83-69
American Eagles Take Down Loyola MD, 83-69 in Conference Showdown
In a hard-fought conference matchup, the American Eagles (HOME) emerged victorious over the visiting Loyola MD Greyhounds, 83-69, behind a balanced performance and strong team defense.
The game was a defensive battle from the opening tip, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. However, it was the home team that came out on top at Bender Arena, led by standout performances from Greg Jones and Julen Iturbe.
At halftime, American held a slim 44-36 lead, but they expanded their margin in the second half, outscoring Loyola MD 39-33 to build a 14-point advantage. The Eagles' defense was stifling, holding the Greyhounds to just 21 points in the final frame while scoring at will.
Jones led the way for American, pouring in 17 points on 58.3% shooting from the field, including one three-pointer. Iturbe chipped in with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Wyatt Nausadis added five assists to round out the Eagles' starting lineup.
For Loyola MD, Braeden Speed led the charge with 13 points, but struggled from beyond the arc, going 0-for-2 on his three-point attempts. Emmett Adair contributed 11 points and five rebounds for the Greyhounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Eagles' strong team effort.
The advanced statistics told a similar story. American's high efficiency on two-pointers (65.9%) and free throw shooting (56.0%) proved decisive, while Loyola MD struggled with their three-point shooting (39.0%). The Eagles also outrebounded their opponents 23-33 in the paint and off the glass.
The win marks a significant milestone for American, who improve to 4-2 on the season. The loss drops Loyola MD to 3-3, but the Greyhounds will look to bounce back against a tough schedule ahead.
With conference games heating up, this matchup served as a reminder that every team is a contender in the Patriot League. For American, it's another step towards a deep postseason run, while for Loyola MD, it's a chance to regroup and refocus before facing an even tougher slate of opponents.