AP

Loyola (La.) wins first NAIA title since 1945

Mar 22, 2022, 7:41 AM | Updated: 7:46 pm

Loyola (La.) celebrates a 71-56 win against Talladega in the NAIA national championship college bas...

Loyola (La.) celebrates a 71-56 win against Talladega in the NAIA national championship college basketball game Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

(AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)


              Loyola (La.) forward Terry Smith Jr. (34) attempts to score past Talladega forward Amir Yusuf (34) during the first half of the NAIA men's championship college basketball game Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
            
              Loyola (La.) forward Terry Smith Jr. (34) attempts to pass the ball as Talladega guard Darryl Baker, back, and forward Richard Boggan (21) defend during the first half of the NAIA men's championship college basketball game Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
            
              Loyola (La.) guard Cameron Dumas, back, shoots over Talladega guard Darryl Baker (3) during the first half of the NAIA men's championship college basketball game Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
            
              Loyola (La.) forward Zach Wrightsil (23) drives to the basket as Talladega forward Richard Boggan (21) defends during the first half of the NAIA men's championship college basketball game Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
            
              Loyola (La.) guard Myles Burns, right, hits a 3-0pointer as Talladega guard Darryl Baker defends during the first half of the NAIA men's championship college basketball game Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
            
              Loyola (La.) celebrates a 71-56 win against Talladega in the NAIA national championship college basketball game Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Zach Wrightsil scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, tournament MVP Myles Burns added 17 points and 17 rebounds, and Loyola (La.) beat Talladega (Ala.) 71-56 on Tuesday night for its first NAIA title since 1945.

Loyola (37-1), in its second NAIA championship game, won its fourth straight in the season series with Talladega — and stretched its overall winning streak to 21. The school’s only other championship — in any sport — was the 1944-45 team.

“I went into every single game this year, believing that I had the best group on the floor, and that they weren’t going to let us lose,” Loyola coach Stacy Hollowell said. “You can’t quantify a kids passion, and these kids have passion.”

Loyola led 36-21 at halftime as Talladega was just 7-of-30 shooting, including 2 of 16 from 3-point range. Wrightsil had 10 points and seven rebounds at the break. Talladega only averages nine turnovers a game, but had eight in the first half.

Talladega started making 3-pointers after halftime, including Darryl Baker’s fourth of the second half to get within 50-45. But Brandon Davis made his third 3-pointer, following an offensive rebound, to help Loyola rebuild a double-digit advantage, 55-45, it would not relinquish.

Davis finished with 13 points and Terry Smith Jr. added 11 for Loyola. Wrightsil was 8 of 12 from the floor and Burns grabbed 17 rebounds for the second game in the tournament.

Baker scored 22 points for Talladega (32-6), which was looking for its first title.

___

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Loyola (La.) wins first NAIA title since 1945