Jan. 27, 2012

Box Score

DAYTON, Ohio - Host Wright State (11-12, 6-5 Horizon) used a 15-0 run in the second half to take control of the game and held on for a 47-41 victory over Loyola University Chicago (5-16, 0-11 Horizon) in a physical, defensive battle tonight at the Nutter Center. The Ramblers turned in a sterling effort on defense, limiting the Raiders to 33 percent (16 for 48) shooting from the field and the 47 points allowed is the fewest since holding Canisius to 45 points on December 22.

"Defensively, we did a great job and held Wright State to 33 percent shooting and we out-rebounded them by 11 (34-23), but we had 22 turnovers and just cannot waste 22 possessions," Loyola Head Coach Porter Moser said. "Wright State was as physical with Ben (Averkamp) as any team we have played this year. With Walt (Gibler) out tonight, Ben felt even more pressure to score and I think he was both physically and mentally spent. "

Both teams played to a defensive slugfest in the first half as they combined to shoot 13 for 42 from the field and through the first 10:19, the score was only 6-6. Loyola scored only eight points though the first 12:30, then closed the half by tallying 12 points in the final 7:30 to take a 20-17 lead into the locker room despite 12 first-half turnovers. In possession of their first halftime lead since December 22 at Canisius, the Ramblers played arguably their best half of defense this season, limiting the Raiders to 21 percent (5 for 24) shooting, while out-rebounding WSU, 21-10 in the opening 20 minutes.

In the second half, Loyola extended the lead 27-21 on Joe Crisman's lay-up with 15:27 remaining, but back-to-back hoops by Julius Mays sent Wright State on a 15-0 run over the next 9:20 as the Raiders staked claim to a 36-27 lead they would never relinquish.

A pair of free throws by Chim Kadima with 5:48 remaining in regulation snapped the Ramblers' near 10-minute scoring drought, but Wright State held short-handed Loyola without a field goal until Denzel Brito's lay-up at the 4:49 mark.

Playing without leading scorer Walt Gibler, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury, Loyola was able to close within four points (42-38) when Brito connected on both ends of a two-shot foul, but Wright State drained five of six shots from the charity stripe down the stretch to hang on for the win.

Averkamp scored 10 points, with nine of those coming in the opening 20 minutes, and fell one rebound shy of a double-double. Jordan Hicks scored in double digits for the third time in the last four games, going for 10 points and a career-high-tying nine boards, while also adding four assists, a steal and a block. Crisman chipped in nine points for the Ramblers, who dropped their ninth straight contest.

Julius Mays scored a game-high 16 points to lead Wright State.

Loyola is back in action on February 3 when it hosts Horizon League leader Cleveland State in a nationally televised game on EPSNU at 8 p.m. Central.