NICEVILLE, FLA. – Southern forced Loyola Maryland into a season-high 31 turnovers en route to posting its second straight victory, 76-58, in the Emerald Coast Classic Friday afternoon at Raider Arena on the Northwest Florida State College campus.
Southern, which improved to 2-3, opened the game, making nine of its first 12 shots.
Meanwhile, Loyola went 5 minutes 11 seconds without a basket, allowing Southern to turn a 6-3 lead into a 16-5 advantage with 12:55 left in the first half.
Guard P.J. Byrd led Southern with 18 points, making five of six shots from the floor, while collecting four assists and four steals. Forward Jalen Reynolds added 11 points.
Loyola played without the services of its leading scorer — guard Jaylin Andrews— a three-year starter who was nursing a back injury.
The Jaguars scored 37 points off Loyola miscues.
Forward David Brown III led Loyola with 22 points, including 14 in the second half.
Southern shot 50 percent from the floor (29-58), while the Greyhounds hit 47.5 percent (19-40).
Loyola outrebounded Southern, 32-28, with forward Isaiah Alexander collecting a game-high eight boards.
