CHICAGO – Kenneth Jones led three Loyola University Maryland players in double-figures, tying his career-high with 20 points as the Greyhounds pulled within four in the final 10 seconds, but DePaul University held for a 72-66 victory in the teams' season-opener at Wintrust Arena.
 
Deon Perry made his collegiate debut with 13 points, and Jaylin Andrews had 12. Golden Dike posted nine points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead all players.
 
DePaul led by 13, 53-40, on a second-chance basket by Da'sean Nelson with 10:07 left in regulation, but Loyola went on a 7-0 run to get within six on an Andrews pull-up jumper with 8:09 on the clock.
 
The Greyhounds forced a turnover on the opposite end of the floor, but they could not convert that possession into points after the under-8 media timeout. The Blue Demons then scored the next five points to stretch their lead back to double digits.
 
A Nelson jumper – he had 10 points for DePaul off the bench – staked the Blue Demons to a 62-48 lead with 2:44 on the clock, but threes on back-to-back possessions by Perry and Jones got Loyola within eight at 1:26.
 
The Greyhounds deficit was nine, 69-60, with 20 ticks left after two Umoja Gibson free throws, but Jones hit a corner three in transition to cut it to six.
 
Javan Johnson, who led all players with 24 points, made 1 of 2 at the free-throw line with 13 on the clock, and Perry knocked down his third three of the game to bring Loyola within four.
 
Jalen Terry, however, sealed the game with two free throws late, providing the final difference.
 
Chris Kuzemka added a career-best seven points off the bench to go with four rebounds. He was one of three players with four boards, joining Andrews and Alonso Faure.
 
Loyola will be back on the road Thursday, November 10, with a 7 p.m. game at Penn State University.   Read Full Article