Loyola coach Jimmy Patsos knows his team needs to make the most of its home games. After winning just once in nine tries on the road, the Greyhounds play at Reitz Arena just twice during the next three weeks.
But tonight?s clash against visiting Marist at 8 gives Loyola (7-9, 3-3 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) a chance to climb back into the conference race when the Red Foxes (11-6, 5-1) come to the Evergreen.
“We have to defend our home turf,” Patsos said. “Our students are back and I expect a large home crowd and that?s what?s most important.”
As awful as the Greyhounds have been on the road, they have been that good at home, going 5-1 with wins against Penn, Vermont and American. The team is led by senior guard Gerald Brown, who is averaging 18.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, but its most important player may be senior forward Omari Isreal. The 6-foot-8, 225-pounder averages 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, but leads Loyola with 25 blocks. Inside Reitz Arena, Isreal is even better, averaging 11 points and 5.3 rebounds.
But after a lackluster performance in a 81-67 loss at Rider on Sunday when Bronco forward and projected NBA draft pick Jason Thompson outscored him, 28-4, and outrebounded him, 17-5, the Rockville native realizes he needs to improve.
“I need to start putting together some double-digit rebounding games,” Isreal said. “I?m kind of disappointed in myself. I know if I rebound, my offense will come and my job for the team is to rebound and play good defense.”
Patsos agrees.
“Isreal has to step up,” he said.”I was hoping that Jason Thompson wasn?t going to hurt us like that, and he did. That was a lesson learned.”
Against Marist, Loyola will have to contend against guard Louie McCroskey (13.3 ppg, 6 rpg) and forward Spongy Benjamin (8.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg) if it wants to remain on pace to avoid playing a first-round game in the MAAC Tournament.
“In the tournament, the top 6 teams get a bye and no team wants to be one to play that first game,” Isreal, whose team is tied with Fairfield for sixth place, said. “We want to put some wins together. All we have to do to pick ourselves up is to beat some good teams.”
GREYHOUNDS (7-10, 3-3 MAAC ) VS. MARIST RED FOXES (11-6, 5-1)
» Tipoff: Tonight, 8
» Where: Reitz Arena
» Radio: 1300 AM
