LOYOLA — Andre Walker erupted for 43 points on Sunday afternoon at Reitz Arena, one shy of the school record and fourth-most by a NCAA Division I player this season, as Loyola took down reeling Lafayette, 83-77.
Walker finished 16-for-26 from the floor and 6-for-12 from behind the arc, and scored 31 in the second half alone. He also tallied six rebounds and swiped four steals.
Loyola Greyhounds on Twitter
Have a day, Dre! Andre Walker’s career-high 43 points leads @LoyolaMBB to an 83-77 win over Lafayette. #GoHounds https://t.co/uNwsCkA6Cl
When the Greyhounds (5-12, 3-3 Patriot) trailed 14-8 early, Walker hit back-to-back 3-pointers to keep them within three. And after trailing 38-37 at halftime, Walker scored 16 points from the 17:22 mark to 9:34 mark, which lifted Loyola out of a 45-41 deficit and into a 62-54 lead. When Lafayette (4-13, 2-4) trimmed the deficit to four, Walker went on a 10-0 personal run to give Loyola more breathing room, 72-58.
Walker also made five free throws in the final minute to preserve the victory, and his 43 points are the most by a Loyola player since the program joined NCAA Division I in 1981-82, eclipsing Jamal Barney’s 41 scored at Canisius College on January 3, 2009.
The 43 points are tied for third-most in a Patriot League regular-season game and the most by a Patriot League player in a conference game since Lafayette’s Brian Burke scored 43 against Lehigh University on February 20, 2002.
Loyola moves into a three-way tie for fifth in the Patriot League, two games behind Boston University at 5-1, and hosts the reigning league champions, Bucknell, on Wednesday night.
