Loyola Maryland Falls to Towson 90-60 in 410 Invitational Opener Despite 20 Points From Leo Ricketts
By Brian Hradsky
TOWSON, Md. — Towson defeated Loyola Maryland 90-60 Thursday night, November 12, at SECU Arena in the opening round of the 410 Invitational powered by Under Armour. The Tigers used a decisive first-half scoring run and an efficient offensive performance to pull away from their Baltimore-area rivals. Loyola’s Leo Ricketts scored a team-high 20 points, while D’Andre Harrison contributed a career-high 14. However, Towson’s Ben Roseborough led all scorers with 24 points as the Tigers improved to 2-2 and dropped the Greyhounds to 1-3.
Competitive Start Gives Way to Towson Run
The opening minutes suggested that the matchup could develop into a competitive local rivalry game. Loyola stayed within striking distance through much of the first half, finding enough offense to prevent Towson from establishing an early double-digit advantage. Ricketts provided an important scoring presence for the Greyhounds, attacking the basket and helping keep the game close. With 7:19 remaining before halftime, his floater cut Towson’s lead to 19-16.
That basket marked a turning point in the contest, but not in Loyola’s favor. Towson responded with 10 consecutive points, transforming a three-point advantage into a 13-point cushion. The Tigers ultimately finished the half on a 21-8 run, taking a 40-24 lead into the locker room. Loyola entered halftime facing a 16-point deficit after allowing Towson to seize control of the game’s momentum.
The stretch demonstrated how quickly a close contest can change when one team struggles to generate defensive stops. Loyola had remained competitive for more than 12 minutes, but Towson’s offensive execution created separation before the break. The Tigers scored 21 points during the closing stretch while holding the Greyhounds to just eight. That imbalance established the foundation for Towson’s eventual 30-point victory.
Loyola Attempts Second-Half Comeback
Loyola showed some offensive improvement after halftime, scoring 36 points in the second half compared with 24 in the first. Harrison helped spark the effort, continuing a productive individual performance that would establish a new career high. His basket just over six minutes into the second half trimmed Towson’s advantage to 58-45. At that moment, the Greyhounds had reduced their deficit to 13 points and still had time to mount a comeback.
However, Loyola could not sustain the defensive stops necessary to turn that push into a serious threat. Towson continued scoring efficiently, preventing the Greyhounds from getting any closer. The Tigers shot 58.1% from the floor during the second half and finished the contest shooting 57.8% overall. Their 50 second-half points eliminated any realistic opportunity for Loyola to complete a comeback.
Towson’s offensive efficiency stands out as one of the defining statistics of the evening. Shooting nearly 58% over an entire game puts considerable pressure on an opponent to match that production. Loyola improved offensively after halftime but still surrendered 10 more points than it scored during the final 20 minutes. The Tigers maintained control throughout the closing stretch and secured a convincing victory in the tournament opener.
Ricketts Leads Loyola With 20 Points
Ricketts delivered Loyola’s strongest individual offensive performance, scoring 20 points in 28 minutes. He shot 6-for-15 from the field, connected on two 3-pointers and made all six of his free throws. His production accounted for one-third of Loyola’s total points, illustrating his importance to the Greyhounds’ offense. Ricketts also recorded two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Harrison provided Loyola’s other double-digit scoring performance, finishing with a career-high 14 points and a team-leading six rebounds. He converted seven of his 13 field-goal attempts while playing 30 minutes. Harrison scored all 14 points from the field, with his baskets helping Loyola remain competitive during portions of both halves. His performance offered an encouraging individual development despite the difficult team result.
Troy Cicero Jr. contributed six points, making two 3-pointers in 11 minutes off the bench. Carter Berg-McLean added five points and three assists, while Gage Howard Jr. scored four. Abdullah Amzil collected five rebounds, and Robbie Long III matched that total while contributing two points. Loyola received 17 points from its reserves but could not match Towson’s overall offensive production.
Roseborough and Stanford Power Towson Offense
Ben Roseborough led Towson with 24 points on 10-for-17 shooting, including two 3-pointers. His scoring efficiency helped the Tigers maintain pressure on Loyola throughout the contest. Roseborough also contributed three assists while playing 31 minutes. His performance highlighted Towson’s ability to generate quality scoring opportunities against the Greyhounds.
Zion Stanford added 19 points, six rebounds and five steals, giving Towson another productive offensive and defensive contributor. Stanford made eight of his 13 field-goal attempts and connected on two 3-pointers. Jaquan Womack finished with 12 points and six rebounds, while Christian Doerr contributed eight points and five assists. The Tigers benefited from several players contributing across multiple statistical categories.
Towson also controlled the rebounding battle, finishing with a 40-29 advantage. The Tigers scored 58 points in the paint compared with Loyola’s 36, demonstrating their effectiveness around the basket. Towson also recorded 17 points off turnovers and 12 fast-break points, compared with six and four, respectively, for Loyola. Those differences helped explain why the Tigers maintained such a substantial advantage.
Three-Point Shooting and Turnovers Hurt Greyhounds
One of Loyola’s biggest offensive problems was its inability to consistently convert from beyond the arc. The Greyhounds attempted 33 3-pointers but made only six, finishing at 18.2%. Ricketts and Cicero accounted for four of those makes, leaving the rest of the roster with just two successful attempts. The poor perimeter shooting made it difficult for Loyola to keep pace with Towson’s efficient interior offense.
Loyola shot 40% overall, making 24 of its 60 field-goal attempts. Towson, by comparison, converted 37 of 64 shots for 57.8%. Although both teams made six 3-pointers, Towson attempted only 16 shots from beyond the arc. The Tigers generated significantly more production inside the perimeter, giving them a substantial offensive advantage.
Turnovers created another obstacle for the Greyhounds, who committed 16 compared with Towson’s 10. Loyola recorded 12 assists, while the Tigers finished with 12 as well. However, Towson converted Loyola’s mistakes into 17 points and recorded 13 steals. That defensive activity helped the Tigers create additional possessions and scoring opportunities.
MSB Take: Loyola Must Improve Its Defensive Consistency
Loyola’s defeat demonstrated the importance of defensive consistency against an opponent capable of scoring efficiently in several different ways. The Greyhounds showed they could compete during portions of the game, particularly when Ricketts and Harrison generated offense. However, allowing a 21-8 run to close the first half proved extremely costly. Towson capitalized on that stretch and never surrendered control.
The biggest concern was not simply the final margin but the combination of defensive breakdowns, rebounding difficulties and inefficient perimeter shooting. Loyola cannot consistently overcome those problems against quality Division I competition. The Greyhounds need more reliable scoring contributions throughout their lineup and must do a better job limiting opponents’ opportunities around the basket. Improving those areas should become a priority as the season progresses.
There were still encouraging individual performances worth recognizing. Ricketts demonstrated his ability to carry a significant scoring responsibility, while Harrison delivered a career-best performance. Their combined 34 points represented more than half of Loyola’s offensive production. Building a more balanced attack around those contributions could help the Greyhounds become more competitive.
For Towson, the victory represented an impressive response during the early portion of its schedule. The Tigers received strong performances from Roseborough, Stanford and Womack while controlling the interior and forcing turnovers. Their 90-point output reflected an effective offensive approach that Loyola struggled to disrupt. The result also gave Towson momentum in the 410 Invitational.
What’s Next for Loyola Maryland?
Loyola will face Morgan State in the consolation game of the 410 Invitational on Saturday, November 14, at 5 p.m. The matchup will take place at SECU Arena in Towson, giving the Greyhounds another opportunity to compete against a Baltimore-area opponent. Loyola enters the contest with a 1-3 record and will look to rebound from Thursday’s defeat. Morgan State presents the next opportunity for the Greyhounds to address their offensive and defensive shortcomings.
The quick turnaround provides Loyola with limited time to make adjustments before returning to the court. Better perimeter shooting, stronger defensive rebounding and fewer turnovers would help the Greyhounds improve their chances of winning. The team will also need to find additional offensive support for Ricketts and Harrison. A victory over Morgan State would provide a much-needed positive result during the early portion of the 2026-27 season.
