Loyola of Maryland Ends Its Skid at 31

Loyola of Maryland ended a 31-game losing streak, defeating Marist, 63-57, Thursday night in Baltimore to end a run of futility that fell just short of an NCAA record.

With their first win in more than a year, the Greyhounds narrowly avoided the NCAA Division I mark for successive losses. Grambling lost 33 in a row from Dec. 6, 1999, to Dec. 16, 2000.

“It’s a big sense of relief,� Loyola Coach Scott Hicks said. “There was a lot of happiness in our locker room tonight.�

Charlie Bell scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half for the Greyhounds (1-18, 1-9 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference), who handed Marist (5-13, 3-6) its fourth loss in a row.

When the game ended, hundreds of Loyola fans rushed the court to celebrate the school’s first victory since Jan. 19, 2003, a 74-69 win in overtime against Rider.

Had the Greyhounds not defeated Marist, they faced the prospect of playing the top two teams in the MAAC -- St. Peter’s and Manhattan -- in their next two games.

After the Greyhounds let a 10-point lead dwindle to 56-54, Jamaal Dixon scored on a layup and later made two free throws for a six-point lead with 42 seconds left.

“This is a big weight off my back,� Dixon said. “I was happy for my teammates, and happy for the students.�

Loyola limited the Red Foxes to 32% shooting and closed the first half with an 8-0 run to take a 30-23 lead. It was the seventh time this season the Greyhounds led at halftime, including their first meeting with Marist -- a 64-48 defeat.

OTHER GAMES

Austin Peay remained unbeaten in the Ohio Valley Conference by beating Tennessee State, 65-54, at Nashville. The Governors (12-7, 9-0) held the Tigers (4-14, 3-4) to 28% shooting.... Texas State had only one player in double figures at Monroe, La., and lost to Louisiana Monroe, 68-58. It was the first Southland Conference loss for the Bobcats (10-7, 5-1), ending a six-game winning streak, and the third consecutive win for the Indians (9-12, 5-2).