:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5818456/20120304_jel_aa6_560.jpg)
Erik Etherly scored 21 points while Shane Walker and Robert Olson added 12 each as Loyola (Md.) advanced to the championship game of the 2012 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament by defeating Siena 70-60 in Springfield, Mass. Sunday evening.
No. 2 seed Loyola took the lead for good with six minutes remaining in the first half after Justin Drummond hit a three-pointer to give the Greyhounds a 20-18 lead. Loyola gradually pulled away as the second half went on, and led by as many as 15 when Etherly's free throw gave them a 62-47 lead with just over four minutes remaining.
The Greyhounds won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the sixth-seeded Saints 29-20, while also managing to shoot 7-for-13 from beyond the three-point line.
Loyola will play No. 4 seeded Fairfield in Monday night's championship game, which tips off at 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. The Stags upset top-seeded Iona 85-75 earlier Sunday afternoon in the first semifinal.