ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The U.S. Naval Academy used a 22-6 first-half run to build a 13-point margin midway through the period, and the Midshipmen later opened the second half with an 11-2 stretch to build another double-digit margin that would throughout much of an 87-71 victory against Loyola University Maryland at Alumni Hall.
Emmett Adair finished one off his career-high with 28 points for Loyola, and
Braeden Speed scored 25, but Navy shot 66.5 percent from the field overall.
Loyola led 11-8 just over five minutes into the game after two Speed free throws, but a Cam Cole jumper for Navy kicked off the scoring run that would build a 30-17 lead with 9:29 when Cole bookended it with a three.
From there, however, two threes by Speed stopped the run, and over the next five minutes, Loyola hit a total of six from behind the arch with Speed knocking down three, Adair hitting one of his six and
Sebastien Emenalo converting one from the corner.
Aidan Kehoe, who had a team-high 23 points for Navy while going 11 of 11 from the floor, scored twice inside before halftime, and the Midshipmen led 44-36 at the break.
Adair scored the second half's first two points to bring the margin to 44-38, but Navy had the next 11 to go up 15, 55-40, with 12:45 to go in regulation.
Two Adair threes over a 51 second stretch got Loyola within eight, 72-64, with 5:40 on the clock, but the Greyhounds could not draw closer.
Speed and Adair combined for 52 of the Greyhounds' 71 points. Adair had a team-high seven rebounds, and Speed dished out a team-high four assists.
Loyola returns to Reitz Arena on Wednesday, February 4, for a 7 p.m. game against Lehigh University.
