Men's Basketball Claims 78-69 Victory Over Loyola Maryland

Saturday, February 7

Boston, MA

1 PM

Boston University

10-15,5-7Patriot

Loyola Maryland

9-16,5-7Patriot

Loyola Maryland

Boston U.

Chance Gladden dribbles the ball toward the hoop with Quinn Nielsen helping set a screen

Photo by: Dan Koerner

Men's Basketball Claims 78-69 Victory Over Loyola Maryland

February 7, 2026 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights / Coach Jones-Gladden Postgame McNair-Coach Jones Postgame

BOSTON – Highlighted by 12 3-pointers and junior Michael McNair's first career double-double, the Boston University men's basketball team posted a 78-69 victory over Loyola Maryland at Case Gym Saturday afternoon.

Facing a 33-30 deficit with 3:11 left in the first half, the Terriers (10-15, 5-7 PL) went on a 17-2 run over the next nine minutes to pull away for the win against the Greyhounds (9-16, 5-7 PL).

McNair went 5-for-10 from behind the arc in the first half to earn 15 points and added a personal-best 12 rebounds. Sophomore Ben Defty came up just one rebound shy of his seventh double-double with a team-high 18 points, while freshman Chance Gladden totaled 15 points and seven assists. Both freshman Sam Hughes (14 pts.) and sophomore Azmar Abdullah (10 pts., 6 rebs.) combined for five 3-pointers.

Jacob Theodosiou went 10-for-13 from the field en route a game-high 25 points, and Jordan Stiemke tallied 15 points as the second Greyhound to score in double digits. BU out-rebounded Loyola though, 41-23, and finished with an 11-0 lead in second-chance points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After Loyola started the contest with a layup and dunk, Gladden set up four of McNair's five 3-pointers as part of a 14-2 run capped by his bucket from behind the arc at 15:50.
The Greyhounds chipped away and pulled within one (20-19) five minutes later on a layup from Theodosiou.
Berg-McLean followed Stiemke's 3-pointer with his own to retake the lead for Loyola, 28-27, at 6:16.
The teams went back-and-forth with Command converting on Stiemke's steal for a 33-30 advantage with 3:36 left.
McNair though flushed his fifth 3-pointer on the next possession, and Defty added a pair of layups during the final 2:30 to grab a 37-33 halftime lead.
Defty scored two more buckets, including a dunk, early in the second half with Gladden netting a 3-pointer to help give BU its first double-digit lead, 44-33.
Abdullah scored on a pull up jumper at 14:14 for a 47-35 lead that quickly became 47-42 due to Theodosiou scoring seven straight points.
Loyola would never get any closer with Hughes quickly flushing a 3-pointer with the bonus free throw at 11:59.
Abdullah struck again from behind the arc for a 69-59 lead with 3:53 left, and the Terriers went 9-for-10 at the free throw line down the stretch to seal the victory.

GAME NOTES

With his five 3-pointers, McNair moved past John Holland ('11) for No. 4 in the season record book at 81 3-pointers, just 14 away from tying John Papale ('16). Corey Lowe ('10) owns both No. 3 (85 - 2008-09) and No. 2 (92 - 2007-8).
McNair also became the seventh Terrier on the current roster to earn a double-double with Defty, Hughes and Gladden also accomplishing the feat this season.
Scoring 10+ points for the 15th straight game, Defty has recorded a double-double in three of the last eight contests, missing out on three more by just one rebound each time.
Posting a 41-23 advantage on the boards, the Terriers out-rebounded an opponent by double-digits for the third time this season after hitting the mark against VTS-Johnson (37-22) and at Lafayette (42-28).
Limited to just four rebounds, the Greyhounds are the first opponent this season to come up empty in second-chance points.
BU and Loyola finish tied in points off turnovers, 12-12, despite the Terriers committing 18 turnovers against the Greyhounds' eight miscues.
BU improved to 21-9 all-time in the series by claiming its fifth straight home victory and avenging last month's 74-57 loss at Loyola.

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