Box Score UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Dylon Cormier's game-high 19 points and suffocating defense on the part of the Greyhounds led Loyola (Md.) to a 65-49 win over the Norfolk State men's basketball team Saturday afternoon at the 2012 Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament.

Loyola forced 19 Spartan turnovers and blocked eight shots in the first game of the two-day tournament at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The loss dropped NSU to 2-2 on the season. The Greyhounds, who were efficient from all areas of the floor, improved to 3-1.

Junior Pendarvis Williams had 14 points to lead the Spartans, who hit just 35.8 percent for the game on 19-of-53 shooting. The Greyhounds, meanwhile, hit 46.0 percent from the floor (23-of-50) and 13-of-17 from the foul line while committing just 10 turnovers.

NSU eliminated an early seven-point deficit in the game and held an 18-17 lead at one point in the first half. After Loyola used an 8-0 run at the end of the first half for a 13-point lead at the break, though, the Spartans got no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Freshman Rashid Gaston contributed 11 points and eight rebounds for NSU, which held a 35-28 edge on the boards. Junior Malcolm Hawkins was the only other player in double figures for the Spartans with 12 points and six boards.

Erik Etherly totaled 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks for Loyola. Tyler Hubbard and Robert Olson hit a combined 6-of-12 from beyond the arc and added 11 points each.

Four points from Etherly helped Loyola take an early 8-4 lead in the game. After Hawkins drained a three, Loyola scored on its next three possessions for a 14-7 advantage at the 12:34 mark. Williams hit a mid-range jumper and Hawkins drained a trey as he brought the ball up the court to get the Spartans back to within two.

A pair of baskets from Gaston and two free throws from Hawkins gave NSU its first lead of the game since the opening minute, 18-17. Olson countered with a pair of treys 30 seconds apart, and the Greyhounds used a 12-1 run to get their lead to 10, 29-19, with 4:08 left in the half.

The Greyhounds went on an 8-0 run to close out the half and take a 13-point lead into the break. The Spartans committed 12 of their 19 turnovers in the first half.

Williams helped get NSU back on track by scoring the first five points of the second half. Two minutes later, a short 6-0 run by the Spartans, capped by a tip-in from Goode, cut the Greyhound lead to seven, 44-37, at the 13:16 mark.

Hubbard nailed a 3-pointer to start a 12-4 run for the Greyhounds, and Etherly's layup and free throws made it 53-41 with 8:40 to go. The Greyhounds completed the run when Olson hit a jumper just inside the 3-point line for a 56-41 lead. The Spartans never threatened the rest of the game.

NSU had 18 offensive boards compared to Loyola's 10, but the Spartans only held a slight 12-10 edge in second-chance points. The Greyhounds turned the 19 Spartan turnovers into a 22-12 margin in points off turnovers.

NSU will play the loser of the Albany/UMKC game Sunday at 11:30 a.m.