Loyola defeats Faulkner to capture 2023 SSAC Men’s Basketball Championship

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – No. 1 seed Loyola (La.) defeated No. 2 seed Faulkner (Ala.) 82-73 to win the 2023 SSAC Men’s Basketball Championship, presented by Newk’s Eatery.

Both teams receive automatic bids to the 2023 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship First and Second Rounds, and both will host brackets. It is the second-straight tournament title for the Wolf Pack.

Congrats to @LoyolaWolfPack on winning the 2023 SSAC Men’s Basketball Championship! pic.twitter.com/LgqdbTnjXy

— Southern States (@SSACsports) February 26, 2023

Inside The Box Score
Loyola, the defending NAIA National Champioons, got 19 points and 11 rebounds from Jalen Galloway, 19 points and four assists from Michael Harden and 15 points from Matthew Mondesir
Faulkner got 24 points from C.J. Hines, 18 points and eight rebounds from Trace Hill and 19 points and four assists from Daniel Garmendia
Loyola shot 45% from the field and dominated the glass with a 41-29 edge in rebounds
Both teams shot over 80% from the charity stripe

How It Happened
Loyola’s lead was cut to 67-64 with 4:33 to play, but the Wolf Pack answered with a 6-0 spurt over the next two minutes to hold on
The last time the game was tied was at 38-38 with 17:02 to play, but after a layup from Mondesir with 16:44 to go to claim a lead, the Wolf Pack never trailed