ANNAPOLIS, Md. –– A 13-0 run to begin the game propelled the Navy men's basketball team (11-2, 8-1 Patriot League, 3-0 P.L. South) to a lead of at least 10 points over the remainder of a 70-52 victory over Loyola (0-5, 0-5, 0-5), Saturday afternoon at Alumni Hall in Annapolis.
 
The Mids jumped out to that 13-0 advantage thanks to their shooting 5-12 from the field at the start of the game and forcing the Greyhounds, whose four previous losses this season have been by a total of seven points, into a 0-8 shooting effort from the field –– plus a 0-3 showing from the foul line –– in the first nine minutes of the game.  Additionally, Navy committed four turnovers and forced Loyola into seven turnovers during that span. 
 
The Greyhounds placed their first point of the game on the scoreboard when Wade Jackson made the second of two free throw attempts with 10:45 left in the half.  Loyola would make its first field goal of the game 44 seconds later.
 
"I thought we were ready to play," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis.  "I thought we defended real well in the first half.  It may have been our best defensive half this year.  We were right where we needed to be in the right spots.  We scored just enough points in the first half.  I thought we were average on offense.  I thought we could have had a few more baskets, but like every coach, you are never happy."
 
The Navy lead dipped to 10 points at 13-3 and 18-8, then it was a 12-point game at 26-14 with 4:28 left.  Jaylen Walker (So., Allen, Texas) scored five points over the next two possessions to start a 12-0 Navy run that boosted the Mids out to a 38-14 lead.  The teams went into the locker room with Navy in front, 38-16.
 
"We came out with a lot of energy today," said Walker.  "That's the type of energy coach wants us to have every game."
 
Navy increased its lead out to 23 points at both 41-18 and 43-20 in the early part of the second half.  Loyola started to make a run at the Mids as the Greyhounds quickly closed to within 14 points (43-29), 12 points (46-34) and eventually 11 points (49-38) with 10:43 still to play. 
 
Greg Summers (Jr., Ocoee, Fla.) hit a jumper on the Navy end of the court then, after a missed triple by Loyola, scored on a layup to push the lead back to 15 points at 53-38.  The Greyhounds had another empty possession, then Walker drained another triple to make the score 56-38.  Loyola's Luke Johnson scored on a layup, then Navy answered with an 8-0 run to make the score 64-40 with 6:49 left on the clock.
 
Navy shot over 40 percent in each half (43.3%, 46.2%, respectively) and Loyola connected on 22.7 percent of its first-half shots before improving to 52 percent in the second half. 
 
"I was disappointed with our defensive effort in the second half," said DeChellis.  "We didn't do the things we did in the first half, and that's disappointing.  We tried to challenge them with that at halftime.  Saying all that, we won by 18 points against a good basketball team."
 
The Mids held a 36-30 advantage on the glass and forced 18 turnovers while committing 13 of their own.
 
Walker connected on four of Navy's seven three-point field goals and shot 50 percent from the floor (5-10) in scoring a career-high 17 points.  His previous career-best effort was 10 points, a total he reached in the first half.  Walker also recorded four assists, three rebounds and three steals.  He was one of five Mids to shoot at least 50 percent from the field today.
 
"The team did a good job of moving the ball around," said Walker.  "I was hoping for more shots and then I was able to knock them down."
 
Pacing all players with points in the game was Cam Davis (Sr., Battlefield, Mo.) with 20.  Also filling the box score was Richard Njoku (Jr., Washington, D.C.) with eight points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks in his 23 minutes of playing time.
 
"Jaylen was very good and I thought Cam was under control and took good shots," said DeChellis.  "Those two guys were excellent.  We got enough of the other guys in pieces.
 
"I try to press upon him (Walker) and Tyler Nelson (So., Monroe, N.C.), they play the same spot, if we can get 14 points from that position and 6-8 rebounds, that's pretty good for that position.  Tyler didn't have a good game today, but Jaylen did.  He can make shots.  I am a tough grader.  I want him to play hard and do that every night.  Being consistent is what we have talked to him about." 
 
The teams will meet again Sunday at noon in Baltimore.