PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern men's basketball hosted, despite frigid and snowy conditions, Southern States Athletic Conference foe Loyola on Saturday. The Firehawks and WolfPack defrosted the snow outside with the heat from a fierce battle as UTS fell 69-61. UT Southern fell to 5-10 overall and 3-5 in league play.
Three Firehawks tallied double figures in points. Mike Bell, Jr. led all scorers with 19 points and five rebounds. Zaiden Cross contributed 14 points, 10 boards, and four blocks. Vito Vujovic tossed in 10 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks.
The WolfPack took the early holding the 5-2 advantage, but a Vujovic trifecta knotted up the score four minutes in. UTS pushed out to a four-point lead, but LU regained it back before the first media timeout. UTS struggled over the next four minutes trailing as much as six but charged back to tie the game at 19 just before the second media timeout under six minutes. Down the stretch, LU looked poised to take a slim lead into the half, but UT Southern had better ideas. Bell, Jr. slashed his way through the trees in the lane to tie the game at 26 with 36 seconds left. The UTS defense got a big stop and tried to steal a bucket before the half. LU would be pressured into fouling Cross as he launched a triple at the horn. Cross connected on two of three free-throws as UTS led 28-26. UTS shot 11-29 (38%) from the field including four from beyond the arch. Bell, Jr. led with eight points.
In the final half, The Firehawks held and extended the lead to 10 points with 11 minutes left. Untimely turnovers and missed shots aided the WolfPack to 13-4 run to take the lead seven minutes left. The Firehawks would trail by as many as 10 with two minutes left. UTS charged back to trail 63-61 with 50 seconds to go. UTS would have a couple of shots on the rim in the waning seconds that refused to fall.
BY THE NUMBERS
37.3 – UTS shot 22-59 for 37.3 percent outshooting the Wolfpack 25-75 (33.3%).
13 – UTS connected on 13 of 19 free throws, to Loyola's 13 of 13 from the foul line.
43 – The Firehawks pulled down 43 rebounds in the game, five less than LU
10 – UT Southern had 10 assists, one less than the visitors.
9 – UTS rejected nine WolfPack shots.
NEXT UP
The Firehawks will travel to Tifton, Ga., to play, SSAC newcomer, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on Thursday, January, 16. The Firehawks and Stallions are set to tipoff at 6:30 p.m.
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