Boys' basketball: Loyola beats Notre Dame, 63-49, in Mission League opener

With coaches in attendance from nearly every Mission League team, the Loyola boys' basketball team put on an impressive display of offense, defense, and fast-break ability in a relatively easy 63-49 victory against Notre Dame in a league opener.

Junior Julian Harrell scored 18 points, junior Justin Childress had 10, Joe Stein had nine, Nachu Amah had nine and freshman-sensation Parker Jackson-Cartwright had eight in a total balanced effort for the Cubs (9-3, 1-0).

"We just didn't bring it," Notre Dame forward Kennedy Edwards said. "The intensity wasn't there. We didn't play hard, aggressive and didn't challenge them."

Loyola sprinted to a 25-17 lead after one quarter and responded to every challenge and mini-run the Knights (9-5, 0-1) threw its way.

Kennedy Edwards, Jonathon Bell and Antwon Johnson each scored baskets to get Notre Dame within six points in the second quarter but the Cubs quickly extended the lead to 11 points before going into halftime with a 10-point lead.

Edwards and Johnson each scored baskets to again cut the deficit to six points in the first minute of the third quarter but Childress, Amah and Harrell each came right back with baskets and Loyola went up 45-34 with 2:15 remaining in the quarter.

David Brownlee gave Notre Dame one last gasp with two baskets to end the third quarter and get within seven points but Loyola received a 3-pointer from Jason Jones and sprinted away from there.

Edwards had 15 points, Johnson had 14 and Bell had 11 to lead Notre Dame but no other player scored more than six.

Edwards kept Notre Dame within striking distance in the first half but was bottled up in the second half for only one field goal.

"We had foul trouble in the first half and couldn't keep him off the glass," Loyola coach Jamal Adams said. "We got our physical guys in there in the second half and put a body on him."

The Knights also hurt themselves with several missed layups and turnovers in the first half to create the hole they could not dig out of.

It won't get any easier for Notre Dame this week with Harvard-Westlake visiting on Friday and the prospect of starting league play 0-2 a possibility.

Loyola will host Crespi on Wednesday in what should be an outstanding game matching two teams that are rapidly improving and have been tested by tough nonleague schedules thus far.

"Our group played hard and together," Adams said. "They like each other and have a lot of confidence. We have played a great schedule that has prepared us for what is to come."