ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Loyola University Maryland's
Santi Aldama had his second double-double in as many games on Wednesday, but the U.S. Naval Academy held off the Greyhounds for a 62-57 Patriot League victory at Alumni Hall.
Aldama, who was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday, scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds for Loyola (15-16 overall, 7-10 Patriot League).
Golden Dike added 12 points, and
Jaylin Andrews had 10.
Cam Spencer hit a 3-pointers with 3:38 left in the first half to get the Greyhounds within a point, 23-22, but Navy (14-14, 8-9) responded with a John Carter, Jr., three, and the Midshipmen later took a 31-26 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Midshipmen extended the lead to 10, 39-29, on a Cam Davis three just over four minutes into the second half, an advantage at which Loyola who eat into over the next several minutes
Over the next four, Loyola went on an 11-3 run to close within a pair on a traditional 3-point play by Aldama at 11:02.
Back-to-back baskets by Navy's Evan Wieck got the Midshipmen back up by five, but an Aldama dunk and a steal and transition basket by Andrews made it 46-44 with 7:37 left in regulation.
Davis scored for the Midshipmen, but layups by Dike with 6:51 and 5:21 on the clock tied the score at 48-48. From there, however, Navy scored the next six points, and the Midshipmen were up 54-48 after two Davis free throws.
Loyola got within three after
Isaiah Hart stole an inbound pass and assisted on an Andrews layup with 14 ticks left, but Navy made it a two-possession game, 59-54, after Greg Summers made two free throws a second later.
Aldama knocked down a three with eight ticks left, and Loyola trailed by only a pair, but those were the last Greyhounds points as Navy made three of four free throws in the final seconds.
Summers had 15 points and 13 rebounds for Navy, while Davis added 14 and Carter Jr. scored 12.
The Greyhounds close the regular-season at home on Saturday, February 29, when they host Lehigh University at 5 p.m. in Reitz Arena.
