EASTON, Pa. – Brandon Bradsher made his first career start in the opening game of his senior year, and the walk-on scored a team-high 21 points as Loyola University Maryland's late comeback fell just short in a 77-75 Patriot League loss at Lafayette College.
 
Bradsher, one of three Greyhounds to come from nearby Boys' Latin School of Maryland, entered the game with 14 career points in 17 games over the last two seasons. On Saturday evening, the senior made six of his nine field goals and 5 of 7 from 3-point range.
 
The Greyhounds (0-1, overall) were making their season debut in their first game since March 3, 2020.
 
Golden Dike added 15 points, three off his career-high, to go with a game-high eight rebounds. Jaylin Andrews, another Boys' Latin product, scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, and he also grabbed seven rebounds. Santi Aldama scored 11 and had five rebounds and two blocked shots.
 
Lafayette (4-1) built a 16-point lead with just over 12 minutes to play in regulation, but a Bradsher three at 11:50 trimmed it back to 13. The teams traded free throws before E.J. Stephens made a pair at the charity stripe with 8:39 to go, stretching the Leopards' advantage back to 15.
 
Two Aldama free throws at 6:45 were the next scoring, and Andrews hit a jumper with 6:10 on the clock, but Tyrone Perry made a three for Lafayette to push the advantage to 68-54.
 
A pair of Dike free throws at 3:15 brought the deficit to 10, 70-60, and then Luke Johnson had a steal at midcourt for the Greyhounds. Andrews hit a long two with three minutes on the clock, and the Greyhounds were within eight.
 
Perry made a jumper at 2:20 to give the Leopards a 10-point advantage, but Bradsher knocked down a three at 1:56 for Loyola, and it was a seven-point game. After Dike converted in the paint and Stephens made two free throws with 38 ticks left, Bradsher scored driving to the basket, was fouled and made the free throw to cut the lead to 74-70 with 28 seconds showing.
 
Against the Loyola press, a Lafayette pass sailed out of bounds, and with 14 seconds left, Johnson converted a floater in the lane to draw Loyola within two.
 
On the ensuing possession, Stephens made 1 of 2 at the line for the Leopards, and Bradsher was fouled in the frontcourt. He made both shots to draw Loyola within a point, 75-74, with five seconds left.
 
Loyola fouled Kyle Jenkins less than a second later, and he made both foul shots for the Leopards. Bradsher was fouled again bringing the ball up the court. He made the first and missed the second, giving the Greyhounds a chance for a tip-in with a second to play. Dike was able to tap the ball, but it sailed wide, and Lafayette ran out the clock.
 
The teams will be back on the court Sunday, January 17, at 6 p.m. in Reitz Arena for a nationally-televised game on CBS Sports Network.