Nov. 13, 2009

Box Score

MANHATTAN, Kan. - A scrappy Loyola University Chicago (0-1) squad managed to outrebound Kansas State (1-0) but dropped a 92-54 decision in the season opener for both teams tonight at Bramlage Coliseum. Despite the loss, Loyola forward Andy Polka became only the 28th player in school history to corral at least 500 rebounds for his career when he hauled in his second board of the night. Polka finished with a career-high-tying 12 rebounds, all coming in the first half.

Both teams struggled at the offensive end of the floor at the outset of a game that featured 61 total fouls called as the host Wildcats clung to a 9-8 lead midway through the first half. Ryan Sterling's three-pointer with a shade under nine minutes left in the period evened the game at 13, but Kansas State closed the half with a 24-5 run to take a 37-18 lead into halftime. Loyola ripped down 31 rebounds in the first 20 minutes alone, with 15 of those boards coming on the offensive glass, but managed to turn those offensive caroms into six second-chance points.

Polka's second board of the night came on a missed Rambler shot at the 13:21 mark of the first stanza, making him the second Rambler in as many seasons to join the 500-rebound club.

Consecutive three-pointers from Marcus Thomas early in the second half brought the Ramblers within 16 points, 42-26, but from there, the Wildcats went on an 11-2 run to seal the outcome.

Loyola connected on only 25 percent (16-for-65) of its shots from the field and turned the ball over 25 times on the night. Thomas paced Loyola with 13 points off the bench, while Terrance Hill netted 10 points and added five rebounds in his first game as a Rambler. Polka finished with 12 rebounds, five points and three assists, and 11 of the 13 Ramblers that saw action tonight scored at least one point.

Tuesday night (Nov. 17), Loyola looks to rebound when it opens up the home portion of its season by hosting Canisius at 7 p.m.