Box Score

CHICAGO - Devon Turk capped a 13-2, second-half run with a pair of three-pointers to help Loyola build a lead and the Ramblers were never threatened the rest of the way in a 64-47 win over UIC this afternoon at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers (6-5) move back over .500 for the season while the Flames drop to 1-8 with the loss.

Loyola got off to a solid start, getting points from four different players while jumping out to a 9-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. Earl Peterson answered a Jake Wiegand tip-in with a three-pointer to make it a 12-2 game before UIC got hot from the three-point line. Gabe Snider hit three treys in a 14-5 UIC spurt that cut the LU lead to one (17-16) with just over eight minutes left in the half. A Dikembe Dixson basket minutes later gave the Flames their first lead of the day but two free throws each from Milton Doyle and Donte Ingram sent the Ramblers to the locker room with a 25-22 lead. Loyola shot just 28% in the opening half but used its aggressiveness (13 free throw attempts) and its defense (12 forced turnovers and 35% UIC shooting) to take its halftime advantage.

A basket from Turk and a steal and dunk from Montel James, making his return to the lineup after missing the previous three games, gave LU a four-point lead early in the second half but Dixson answered with a bucket to keep UIC within two points. However, Doyle drilled a triple to kickstart the Ramblers' run and, after a UIC hoop, James and Ingram scored to make it a seven-point game and Turk extended the margin to 13 (46-33) with back-to-back triples.

UIC would get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way, with Loyola's defense and offensive execution allowing them to slowly push out the margin.

The Ramblers rebounded to shoot 45% in the second half, finishing at 37% for the game, slightly better than UIC's 35% accuracy. In addition, Loyola turned 21 UIC turnovers into 24 points.

For the first time this season, Loyola put five players in double figures. James led the way with 14 points and seven rebounds and was joined by Doyle (13 points), Turk (12), Peterson (11) and Ingram (11 points, eight rebounds).

The Ramblers return to action on Monday night (Dec. 21) when they host Western Illinois. Tip-off from Gentile Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.