The Loyola men?s basketball team knows it?s time to change its mentality. After getting hammered on the road by Dayton and Illinois by a combined 51 points, the Greyhounds are looking to turn their season around after losing five of their past six games.
“It was a matter of toughness and not giving up,” senior forward Michael Tuck said of Loyola?s past two games. “I feel like we let up in both games, and it?s all about perseverance and sticking through to the end.”
Loyola (5-7, 1-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) will have a golden opportunity to climb back to .500 this weekend. The Greyhounds host Fairfield (3-9, 1-1) tonight at 7 in front of a national television audience on ESPNU and welcome Iona (5-9, 1-1) to Reitz Arena on Sunday at noon.
“We have to play good ?D? and rebound against both teams and both are good inside teams and we have to push the ball on the fast break and get easy baskets,” Loyola sophomore guard Brett Harvey said. “First, we are focusing on Fairfield, and then Iona after that.”
Tuck, however, acknowledged the team has had the game against Iona circled since a 24-point blowout in New Rochelle, N.Y, on Dec. 7.
“The Iona thing has not left our minds and we are 100 percent ready for them,” Tuck said. “We are looking for a chance to get back at them.”
Tuck and Harvey have been key pieces for the Greyhounds. Tuck is averaging 9.2 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game, starting nine of 12 games this year after winning the conference?s Sixth Man of the Year award last season. Harvey is in charge of running the offense, leading the team with 3.9 assists per game and shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc.
“We have struggled on the road and played our best ball at home,” Harvey said. “We are confident we can get these wins and get the season back on track.”
GREYHOUNDS (5-7, 1-1 MAAC) VS. FAIRFIELD STAGS (3-9, 1-1)
» Tipoff: Tonight, 7
» Where: Reitz Arena
» TV/Radio: ESPNU, 1300 AM
» Tickets: Available
