BALTIMORE — In a closely contested match, Milos Ilic spearheaded Loyola Maryland as they edged out Lehigh with a 77-73 victory in the Patriot League Tournament. Loyola Maryland, the eighth seed, witnessed Ilic contributing a commendable 17 points. The game’s closing moments saw Braeden Speed securing the win with a crucial layup with just 32 seconds left on the clock. This victory propels the Greyhounds into the quarterfinals, where they are set to face the top-seeded Bucknell on Thursday.
Ilic not only led in scoring for Loyola Maryland but also made a substantial impact with nine rebounds. His teammate, Jacob Theodosiou, made significant contributions by adding 15 points, hitting 5 of 12 from the field, including a single 3-pointer on five attempts, and scoring 4 out of 7 free throws. Adding to the team’s depth, Tyson Commander finished with 13 points, efficiently shooting 5 for 7 and making 3 of 4 attempts from three-point distance.
Nasir Whitlock stood out for the ninth-seeded Lehigh Mountain Hawks, leading his team with 16 points. Tyler Whitney-Sidney made his presence felt with 12 points and an impressive six assists for Lehigh, while Edouard Benoit contributed another 10 points to the team’s effort.
The game saw Loyola pushing into halftime with a 43-38 lead over their opponents. Commander had an impactful first half, contributing 11 points, while Ilic shone in the latter stages, scoring the highest for Loyola Maryland with 13 points in the second half.
