BALTIMORE – Loyola University Maryland graduate student
Golden Dike recorded the second triple-double in program history on Saturday evening, scoring 14 points to go with 11 rebounds and 10 assists, but Lehigh University rallied to beat the Greyhounds, 88-76, in a Patriot League game in Reitz Arena.
Dike's triple-double was the first for the men's basketball team since Dave Wojick scored 14 points and had 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a February 4, 1989, game home win over St. Francis (Pa.).
Deon Perry scored 22 points for Loyola, and
Milos Ilic had a career-best 19 points, as well.
Loyola jumped out of the gates quickly in the game as Dike scored the first points nad had assists on the next two Loyola baskets – 3-pointers by Ilic and
D'Angelo Stines – to lead 8-3 after two minutes.
Lehigh got within three, 10-7 on a Joshua Ingram transition basket at 16:40, but the Greyhounds scored eight in a row, capped by threes from Perry and Ilic to go up 18-7 at the 14:43 mark.
The Mountain Hawks slowly chipped away and eventually tied the game at 22-22 on two of Jalin Sinclair's game-high 30 points with:47 to play in the first half. Lehigh later took a 28-27 lead on two Nasir Whitlock free throws with 5:03 to play, and a Tyler Whitney-Sidney layup made it 30-27 at 3:44.
Jordan Stiemke hit two 3-pointers in the span of 90 seconds, however, and Loyola built a five-point lead that it would keep at halftime, 39-34.
After the break, a Dike putback would make it 52-47 in favor of Loyola, but Lehigh scored the next nine points to lead 56-54 on a Sinclair layup off a turnover with 12:17 left in regulation.
Perry made a three with 8:05 on the clock that drew the Loyola deficit back to one, 63-62, but the Mountain Hawks scored 12 of the next 14 points with a Sinclair basket making it 75-64 with 4:15 on the clock.
In addition to Sinclair's 30 points, Whitney-Sidney scored 25, and Ingram added 14.
Loyola will go on the road for its next game, a Wednesday, January 10, game at Army West Point that is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
