Lehigh Mountain Hawks vs Loyola Maryland Greyhounds NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/5/25
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Mountain Hawks and Greyhounds. The game is starting at 1:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Greyhounds at Reitz Arena in Baltimore, MD. Get ready to place your bets! Lehigh come into this Patriot League conference matchup as the -1.5 favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 141.5 points.
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS VS LOYOLA MARYLAND GREYHOUNDS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Loyola Maryland Greyhounds +1.5
This game will be played at Reitz Arena at 1:00 ET on Sunday, January 5th.
WHY BET THE LOYOLA MARYLAND GREYHOUNDS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Greyhounds.
- Not only will Loyola Maryland pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +1.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 141.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Will the Mountain Hawks Find a Way to Win on the Road?
Lehigh Mountain Hawks Recent Game/Games
The Mountain Hawks improved to 4-6 on the season after a 66-64 win over Bucknell on Thursday. Lehigh, who were -3 favorites, didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 130 fell short of the O/U line of 140.5.
Lehigh rallied in the 2nd half, outscoring Bucknell 37-24 after trailing 33-20 at halftime. Their strong defensive effort was key to the comeback.
Lehigh struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 33.8% from the field and 34.2% on two-point attempts. They connected on 33.3% of their threes, hitting 9 of 27, and managed a 40% effective field goal percentage. At the free-throw line, they shot 61.9%, making 13 of 21 attempts.
Nasir Whitlock led the way with 20 points, shooting 70% overall and 75% from deep (3/4). Noah Williamson added 17 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 53.3%. Cam Gillus and Josh Bascoe both had 5 assists, with Bascoe struggling from the field, hitting just 27.8% of his shots.
Lehigh’s defense held strong, giving up just 64 points while limiting their opponent to 33% shooting from the field. The Mountain Hawks were particularly effective inside, where they allowed only 13 two-point baskets on 38 attempts, a 34% success rate.
From beyond the arc, Lehigh’s defense conceded 9 threes on 27 attempts, with their opponent shooting 33%. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 21 times, where they made 13, shooting 61%. Lehigh gave up 12 offensive rebounds in the game.
Will the Greyhounds Win at Home?
Loyola Maryland fell to 4-7 on the season after a narrow 74-72 loss to Holy Cross on Thursday. The Greyhounds were +2.5 point underdogs going into the game, and while they didn’t get the win, they did cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 146, surpassing the over/under line of 139.5.
Loyola Maryland led 36-33 at halftime but couldn’t hold on, allowing 41 points in the second half while scoring 36 themselves. This game marked another close loss for the Greyhounds, who are looking to turn things around as the season progresses.
Loyola Maryland put up 72 points in their last game, shooting 40% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 46.7%. They hit 36.8% from beyond the arc, connecting on 7 of 19 attempts, and were strong from the free-throw line, making 17 of 20 for 85%.
Aidan Richard was a standout, hitting 6 of 8 threes for 75% and finishing with 18 points. Jordan Stiemke led the team with 19 points, shooting 57.1% overall, while Milos Ilic contributed 12 rebounds and 8 assists.
Despite Loyola Maryland’s defensive struggles, allowing 74 points on 50% shooting from the field, they couldn’t overcome their defensive lapses. The Greyhounds gave up 11 threes on 23 attempts, with the opposing team shooting 47% from beyond the arc.
Even with their defensive issues, Loyola Maryland limited second-chance opportunities, giving up just 4 offensive rebounds. However, they sent the other team to the free-throw line 13 times, where they converted 9 of those attempts.