Loyola, Md. 79, St. Peter's 63

2/7/2008 8:06 PM

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

BALTIMORE (AP) -Gerald Brown matched his career high with 33 points, and Loyola, Md. limited St. Peter's to five first-half field goals in an 81-69 victory Thursday night.

The Greyhounds (14-11, 9-4 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) played the final 24 minutes without coach Jimmy Patsos, who was ejected after receiving successive technical fouls during a single stoppage in play. Assistant coach Brian Blaney took over and guided Loyola to its seventh win in eight games.

It was the fourth game in eight days for the Greyhounds, who never trailed. Loyola led 36-28 at halftime and cruised behind Brown, who went 8-for-13 from the field, including 4-for-7 from 3-point range. He also sank 11 of 15 free throws.

Nick Leon led St. Peter's with 15 points and Darrell Lampley had 13. The Peacocks (5-18, 2-11) have lost nine of 10 overall and are 0-12 on the road this season.

Brown scored 19 in the first half, and the Greyhounds took control by holding St. Peter's to 5-for-27 (18.5 percent) shooting from the floor.

Brown hit a 3-pointer and a layup to open the scoring, and Loyola quickly moved in front 14-4. The Peacocks closed to 20-14 before Brown scored 8 points in an 11-2 run that put the Greyhounds up by 15.

Then, after Loyola center Hassan Fofana was called for a foul under the St. Peter's basket, Patsos received two quick technical fouls. He saluted the Loyola student section with a fist pump as he walked off the court. Leon, meanwhile, sank six straight free throws to make it 31-22.

St. Peter's went 16-for-19 at the line in the first half, including a 10-for-10 performance by Leon.

After the Peacocks closed to 39-33 early in the second half, Brown hit a 3-pointer and added two free throws following a technical foul call on St. Peter's coach John Dunne. Minutes later, an 18-foot jumper by Brown and a dunk by Omari Isreal made it 52-37.