Feb. 25, 2010

Box Score | Quotes

CHICAGO - Geoff McCammon scored 22 points, but visiting Milwaukee (17-13, 9-8 Horizon) came back from a 15-point first-half deficit to record a 63-61 victory over Loyola University Chicago (14-14, 5-12 Horizon) tonight at the Gentile Center. The Panthers converted 17-of-26 shots from the foul line, while the Ramblers attempted only 3 shots from the charity stripe and hit two.

Loyola staked claim to an early 25-10 lead as McCammon and Aric Van Weelden each hit a pair of three-pointers to help the Ramblers get off to another hot start. Milwaukee used an 11-2 spurt to get within six points (27-21) but a basket by Walt Gibler and a free throw by Terrance Hill sent Loyola into the locker room with a 30-21 lead.

The Ramblers held the Panthers to 32 percent shooting from the field and 18 percent (2-for-11) from three-point range in the opening half.

Milwaukee opened the second half on fire offensively, using an inside-out combination to go on a 20-9 run and take a 41-39 lead, their first since a 5-2 edge in the opening three minutes of the game.

A jumper by McCammon and a lay-up by Gibler broke a tie and gave Loyola a 59-55 lead with 2:42 left to play, but a three by James Eayrs followed by a lay-up by Ricky Franklin gave Milwaukee a 60-59 lead.

Ja'Rob McCallum hit a pair of free throws to stretch the Panther advantage to 62-59 with 20 seconds left, but McCammon's dunk with three seconds remaining brought Loyola within a point (62-61). Franklin split a pair of free throws to give Milwaukee a 63-61 lead and Van Weelden's desperation heave was right on the money, but fell short as the Ramblers dropped their third straight contest.

In addition to McCammon's 22 points, Loyola also received 11 points from Hill and eight points and a career-best 10 boards from Gibler. Anthony Hill paced Milwaukee with 21 points, while Franklin added 20.

Loyola closes out the regular season when its hosts Green Bay Saturday (Feb. 27) at 3 p.m.