Two weeks earlier, Loyola had won at Siena for its first road victory since 1999. Last night, the Greyhounds were striving to sweep the same team for the first time since 1997.
It didn't happen.
The Saints took control of the game six minutes into the second half, then iced the decision with 10 free throws in the final 1 1/2 minutes to spoil Loyola's home finale, 67-55, before 1,455 at Reitz Arena.
Pre-game ceremonies honoring departing players Jim Chivers, Bernard Allen, Irakli Nijaradze and Sean Corrigan and the usual rowdy support of the student section were not enough to prevent the Greyhounds from clinching their sixth straight 20-loss season.
"We can't make a shot," said Loyola coach Jimmy Patsos. "We had open looks, and they didn't go. You can't be afraid that they're not going in."
After the game was tied at 40 on a three-pointer by Brad Farrell, Loyola (6-20, 5-12 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) scored one field goal over a 13 1/2 -minute span, while Siena, another team struggling in MAAC play, steadily expanded its lead.
Siena (6-22, 4-13) won its second in a row for only the second time this season.
It has been a tough run for the Saints, who are missing all-MAAC forward Michael Haddix and their original starting point guard, freshman Kojo Mensah, both victims of leg fractures.
Another freshman, Jack McClinton (Calvert Hall) has stepped in at point guard and performed brilliantly, adding a game-high 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to his production last night in his first organized game in Baltimore in two years.
"It was a big thrill playing here. I had 50 or more people behind me," said McClinton. "It's real good to come back and get a win, especially in what was like a tournament atmosphere. We should like coming into games like this."
McClinton made seven of eight foul shots down the stretch as Siena beat the Greyhounds for the 10th time in the past 11 meetings. Three other Saints scored in double figures.
"The last game [a Siena win over second-place Rider] gave them confidence," said Siena coach Rob Lanier. "And they were really excited about this game. They knew it would be a good crowd and atmosphere. It was important to get back-to-back wins."
SIENA - Holle 0-2 1-2 1, Sniezyk 6-7 0-1 12, A.Fisher 3-7 2-4 11, Mitchell 2-4 3-4 7, McClinton 5-13 8-9 18, Beers 0-1 0-0 0, T.Fisher 0-1 0-0 0, Ryan 4-7 0-0 10, Jordan 2-5 4-4 8. Totals 22-47 18-24 67. LOYOLA - Stanback 1-4 0-0 3, Alujevic 1-2 0-0 2, Nijaradze 0-0 0-0 0, James 4-9 5-7 13, Farrell 3-9 0-0 7, Allen 2-8 4-4 8, Manning 2-4 0-0 4, Bell 3-6 5-7 11, Corrigan 2-9 0-2 5, Chivers 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 19-53 14-20 55. Halftime-Siena, 29-28. 3-point goals-Siena 5-18 (A.Fisher 3-5, Ryan 2-4, Beers 0-1, T.Fisher 0-1, Jordan 0-1, Mitchell 0-1, McClinton 0-5), Loyola 3-15 (Farrell 1-1, Stanback 1-2, Corrigan 1-7, Alujevic 0-1, Bell 0-1, James 0-1, Manning 0-2). Fouled out-James. Rebounds-Siena 32 (McClinton 8), Loyola 31 (Allen 10). Assists-Siena 16 (McClinton 7), Loyola 10 (Farrell 4). Total fouls-Siena 19, Loyola 20. A-1,455.