BALTIMORE (Interstat) — A dominant second-half performance by Emmett Adair and a stifling defensive effort propelled Loyola Maryland to a 74-57 victory over Boston University in a Patriot League men’s basketball game Saturday at Reitz Arena.

The Greyhounds, who trailed by two at halftime, outscored the Terriers 40-21 after the break, holding Boston University to just 21 points on 6-of-28 shooting in the final 20 minutes. Loyola Maryland improved to 6-13 overall, while Boston University fell to 7-12.

The game’s decisive stretch came early in the second half. After Boston University’s Ben Defty opened the scoring with a free throw, Loyola Maryland seized control with a 14-2 run over a five-minute span. The surge was fueled by defense, as the Greyhounds forced four Terrier turnovers during the stretch. Jonas Sirtautas, who had 12 points and four blocks, converted a pair of free throws and a tip-in, while Braeden Speed and Tyson Commander each hit three-pointers to turn a 36-34 deficit into a 48-38 lead with 15:26 remaining.

Boston University never recovered. The Terriers, who shot just 32.7 percent for the game and 20.7 percent from three-point range, saw their offensive struggles compounded by 15 turnovers, which Loyola Maryland converted into 18 points. The Greyhounds, by contrast, committed only seven turnovers and recorded nine steals.

Adair, a sophomore from Sydney, Australia, led all scorers with 17 points, 15 of which came in the second half. His interior scoring and activity were pivotal as Loyola Maryland pulled away. Speed, from Phoenix, added 14 points, and Sirtautas provided a major defensive presence with his four blocks.

Boston University was led by Ben Defty, the 7-foot center from Berlin, who posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Chance Gladden of Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed 13 points, and Sam Hughes of Brookline, Massachusetts, added 12. However, the Terriers’ offense was disjointed, managing only five assists against their 15 turnovers.

The first half was a tightly contested, albeit sloppy, affair with nine lead changes. Boston University used an 8-0 run late in the period to take a 36-31 lead, but Loyola Maryland closed the half with three free throws from Carter Berg-McLean to trim the margin to 36-34 at the break.

The second half belonged entirely to the Greyhounds. Their offensive rating of 104.3 on 71 possessions starkly outperformed Boston University’s mark of 78.0 on 73 trips, highlighting the efficiency gap after halftime. Loyola Maryland also won the battle on the glass, out-rebounding the Terriers 40-34 and securing seven offensive boards.

The win gives Loyola Maryland a positive start to a key three-game homestand, while Boston University has now dropped two of its last three contests after a two-game winning streak. According to Interstat’s ELO system, the outcome was an upset, as Boston University entered with a 58.8 percent probability to win and was installed as a 2.5-point favorite. The combined point total of 131 fell well under the over/under line of 153.

Loyola Maryland travels to face Lehigh on Monday. Boston University returns home to host Lafayette on Wednesday.