Final Stats | Quotes

Baton Rouge, La. -- Quinton Doggett's 14 points and seven rebounds helped propel Southern past Loyola-New Orleans 73-68 Thursday in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

With the win, Southern (4-9) matched their 2010-11 win total of four heading into Southwestern Athletic Conference play against Prairie View A&M Jan. 3.

"I still don't know the gist of our team because we've been on the road playing big, stronger guys," said first year head coach Roman Banks. "I think we have been competing but it was good for me to see our team in a competitive game. It's going to give us a lot to look at so we can be ready for conference play."

Despite a sluggish first half and a 38-36 halftime deficit, Southern picked up their defensive intensity holding Loyola to 27 percent shooting in the second half. The Jaguars also forced 11 second half turnovers and Doggett led the defensive charge with a game high four blocks.

"We knew that we had been playing slow on defense," said Doggett. "We had to come out and pick it up on defense or we was going to lose the game."

Four Jaguars scored in double figures, including 13 each from Derick Beltran and Jameel Grace. Cameron Monroe added 10 points and senior Fred Coleman posted nine points and eight boards, including six on the defensive glass. Corey Gray led the Wolfpack with 20 points.

Banks, a former Southern assistant coach under Tommy Green and Ben Jobe, has made defense his team's top priority since Day 1.

"He's a very good coach," said Doggett. He's hard on us but he's good. Everything is different. We work harder, longer. We take everything more seriously, not just being passive. He instills in us to just work hard everyday."

The Jaguars hit the SWAC trail to play four conference games in six days opening on the road at Prairie View Jan. 3 and at Texas Southern Jan. 5. Tipoff for both games is schedule for 7:30 p.m.