Dec. 29, 2007

Box Score | Quotes

CHICAGO - Fourteen players scored for Loyola University Chicago (5-7) as the Ramblers rolled to an 89-45 victory tonight over Saint Mary's (Minn.) (0-9), an NCAA Division III team, at the Gentile Center. Loyola snapped a two-game losing skid and won its third straight home contest, while limiting the visiting Cardinals to 30 percent shooting from the field.

Loyola hit its first six shots from the field and scored the first 10 points of the game to seize control from the opening tip. After Saint Mary's pulled with five points at 11-6, the Ramblers closed the period with a 42-11 run to take a 53-17 lead at the half.

In the second half, the Ramblers built their lead to as many as 47 points (82-35), their largest advantage ever under fourth-year head coach Jim Whitesell.

Justin Cerasoli, who was making his Gentile Center debut for Loyola, scored a team-high 17 points and added six rebounds, five assists and four steals in only 21 minutes of action. Andy Polka matched a season high with 13 points, while Dave Telander pumped in a season-high 12 points off the bench for his best output since going for a career-best 19 points versus Illinois State during his freshman year in 2004. The highlight for Loyola fans came late in the game as Andrew Coombs and Ryan Sterling notched their first career points.

J.R. Blount added 11 points and Darrin Williams, who was making his first career start, went for seven points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the Ramblers.

Loyola begins a tough stretch of game s in which it plays three contests in five days, when it travels to Cleveland State on Jan. 3.