BETHLEHEM, Pa. –
Braeden Speed's three with 56 seconds left tied the score at 81-81, but Lehigh University would hold Loyola University Maryland scoreless for the remainder of the game, and the Mountain Hawks went on to an 88-81 Patriot League victory at Stabler Arena.
Speed led the Greyhounds with 20 points and his three knotted the game for the ninth time, but Lehigh's Nasir Whitlock scored on jump and converted a free throw after being fouled 26 seconds later, and the Mountain Hawks claimed the 17th lead change of the contest.
Edouard Benoit and Joshua Ingram both made pairs of free throws for Lehigh to seal the win after Whitlock's basket, and Loyola did not come up with a basket on the offensive end.
Loyola led throughout much of the first half, but Lehigh came back to tie the score at 41-41 before halftime.
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Jonas Sirtautas dunk off a
Sebastien Emenalo assist with 12:05 to play in regulation gave the Greyhounds a 59-52 advantage, but Lehigh would tie the game at 61-61 less than three minutes later on a step-back by Jalen Vazquez.
Loyola led twice thereafter, but both were just one-point margins.
Emmett Adair scored 13 points, and Sirtautas added 12 for the Greyhounds who had nine players score four or more.
Whitlock scored a game-high 28, and Benoit had 18 for the Mountain Hawks.
Loyola will return to action on Saturday, January 24, with a 5 p.m. game against Bucknell University.
