BALTIMORE – American University scored off the opening tip and never trailed on Monday night as the Eagles took a 73-54 victory over host Loyola University Maryland in a Patriot League game in Reitz Arena.
Elijah Stephens picked up the loose ball off the tip and got to the rim to score for the Eagles (9-9 overall, 3-2 Patriot League) less than four seconds into the game.
Braeden Speed would drive and score for Loyola (7-9, 2-3) just over 30 seconds later, but Stephens scored the next basket to put American in front for the rest of the game.
American led 19-9 with 8:35 to play in the first half, but Loyola went on an 8-0 run to close within a pair, 19-17, on a
Milos Ilic dunk at 6:08.
The Eagles, however, had a 10-0 run of their own to answer and built a 29-17 lead at 3:32. They never led by less than 10 after that point.
Jordan Stiemke scored 11 points to lead Loyola;
Milos Ilic scored nine, cand
Veljko Ilic added eight.
The game closed a stretch of five games in 12 days for the Greyhounds to open Patriot League play. They will be back on the court Saturday, January 18, with a 2 p.m. contest at Lehigh University.
