Notre Dame Dominates Loyola, 84-51

SOUTH BEND, Ind. —  Loyola Marymount Coach John Olive wasn’t sure whether it was Notre Dame’s defense or his own team’s lack of execution that spelled trouble for his Lions on Saturday.

Either way, the Irish prevailed, 84-51.

“When [the Irish] had to replace their big men, they didn’t lose much when someone else came in,” Olive said.

Ryan Hoover scored 20 points to lead Notre Dame (5-4) and also went over 1,000 points.

Loyola (8-3) had been averaging more than 74 points per game, but could not get its up-tempo game going.

Forced to play a half-court offense, the Lions shot 36% from the floor, well below their 48% average. The 51 points was their lowest total this season and the 84 was the most they have given up.

Barely four minutes into the game, the officials stopped it when Loyola’s Ime Oduok was felled by an errant Irish elbow. Although Oduok wasn’t hurt, both teams were sent to the bench for two minutes with the Lions leading, 10-5. When play resumed, Loyola’s momentum was gone. Moments later, Notre Dame went up, 21-11.

“I’m not sure why the officials called that time out,” Olive said. “For some reason they stopped play and it changed the momentum of the whole game.”