Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
13-17
Loyola (First Round)
9-21
Loyola Hands Army Gut-Wrenching Loss in First Round
February 27, 2018 | Men's Basketball
BALTIMORE - The Army West Point men's basketball team dropped its second heartbreaker in as many games, falling to Loyola 82-79 here Tuesday night in the Patriot League tournament first round.
With the outcome, the Black Knights conclude their season with an overall record of 13-17. Loyola advances to the league quarterfinals where it will travel to top-seeded Bucknell on Thursday.
Both teams battled all night in a game that featured 14 lead changes and seven tie scores.
Loyola held a 28-26 advantage with 7:19 remaining in the opening period but the Black Knights sparked a 13-3 run, that lasted seven minutes, to force a Greyhounds' timeout with 30 seconds left to play. The Cadets would have taken that eight-point lead into the break but a desperation, long-range 3-pointer from Andre Walker at the buzzer cut the Army edge down to 39-34 at halftime. The Black Knights kept Loyola scoreless for more than five minutes down the stretch until Walker's late shot fell through the hoop.
The Cadets continued their strong play in the second half, starting the period on an 11-6 run to create the game's largest lead at 50-40 with 15:44 left to play.
It remained a 10-point Army advantage with under 15 minutes remaining until the home team sparked a rally of their own over a six-minute span. Loyola used a 16-6 run to knot the score for the fifth time at 58-all.
After the Greyhounds pulled in front by three, Tommy Funk answered on the other end of the court with an old fashioned three-point play to again tie things up at 63-63 with exactly seven minutes left on the clock. A small 3-2 Army run over the next 1:15 handed the visitors a 66-65 edge. Unfortunately, the home side converted on six straight to break the game open at 71-66 with just under five minutes remaining.
The Greyhounds extended their lead to their largest of the game at 78-71 following two made free throws from KaVaughn Scott with 1:16 left on the clock. But the Cadets would not go away, using a 5-0 run to make it a two-point ballgame with 43 ticks remaining. The Black Knights then fouled Scott in hopes of two missed shots at the charity stripe. And that's exactly what they got. Army then moved the ball up the court and proceeded to run a perfect play for Jacob Kessler, but the junior's reverse layup rolled around the rim before falling out.
Army was again forced to foul. This time the Greyhounds converted on both free throw attempts to make it a four-point game at 80-76 with 18 seconds remaining. But Funk would answer with a huge 3-pointer to pull the Black Knights within 80-79 with 11 ticks left on the clock. After another Cadets' foul and two made free throws from Chuck Champion, Army had one final opportunity to knot the score and send the game into overtime.
With the final six seconds ticking away, Army shifted the ball over to Funk in hopes of another trey from the sophomore. But the Warrington, Pa., native's open look from the top of the key wouldn't fall, handing Loyola the 82-79 victory and ending Army's season in gut-wrenching fashion.
Funk led all scorers with 21 points, his third 20-plus scoring night of the year. He was one assist shy of recording his second double-double of the year, finishing with a game-high nine helpers. The guard added four rebounds in his 38 minutes of action as well.
Joining him in twin figures was Jordan Fox and Alex King with 19 and 13 points, respectively. Fox converted on five of his 12 shots from downtown, while King finished 3-of-5 from behind-the-arc.
Senior Luke Morrison, who played in his final game for the Black and Gold on Tuesday, led all players on the boards with 10 rebounds to match his career-best effort. He also chipped in nine points and three assists.
ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES
- The Black Knights finished the night shooting 42.4 percent (28-of-66) from the floor and 38.2 percent (13-of-34) from downtown. The Cadets added 10-of-14 (71.4 percent) makes at the free throw line as well.
- Loyola shot 55.4 percent (31-of-56), 27.8 percent (5-of-18) and 65.2 (15-of-23), respectively.
- Fox added six assists, four rebounds and a team-best two steals on his night.
- Kessler compiled nine points and five rebounds.
- The Black Knights and Greyhounds both pulled down 35 rebounds but the Cadets held the 11-7 edge on the offensive glass.
- Each team turned the ball over 13 times with Loyola earning eight steals and Army five.
- The Greyhounds scored 44 points from inside the paint compared to 28 for the Black Knights.
- Army did however outscore its host 24-14 on points off turnovers.
- Loyola closed things out holding the slim edge on second-chance points (8-6) and fast-break points (12-10).
- The Greyhounds saw four reach double-digit scoring with Andrew Kostecka earning a team-best 20 points.
- He was two points shy of matching his career-best effort, which he achieved in Loyola's season opener at Northwestern. The sophomore finished 9-of-14 from the floor and 2-of-4 from long range.
- Walker chipped in 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 2-of-6 makes from downtown.
- Champion and Scott closed out the Greyhounds in twin figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
- The Cadets held the lead for 19:01, while Loyola was in front for 15:49. The game was tied for 4:44.
- Army dropped its first game on a Tuesday, as the Black Knights were a perfect 4-0 heading into the contest.
INDIVIDUAL SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
- Fox finished the season with his 22nd double-figure scoring night.
- He closed out his junior campaign with 347 career helpers, which places him fifth all-time.
- The Jackson County, Ky., native also sits 11th all-time with 149 career 3-pointers.
- Funk compiled his 16th twin-figure scoring night of the year.
- He already broke the Army single-season assists record, but closed out his sophomore campaign with a total of 172.
- Funk currently sits eighth all-time in the Academy's career charts with 327.
- Morrison capped his Army career with 713 points, 332 rebounds and 64 assists.
- His 172 career treys put him eighth all-time, while his career 3-point field goal percentage of .381 (172-of-452) places him 10th in Academy lore.
- King wrapped up his rookie season with Army's fifth-best season 3-point field goal percentage with a mark of .457 (42-of-92).
- Wilson finished his sophomore campaign with a .597 field goal percentage (157-of-263). That number places him 11th in Army's records book.
