Box Score | Postgame Comments

Normal, Ill. - Illinois State used a key, 7-0 run late in the second half to turn a two-point lead into a nine-point bulge in an eventual 67-60 win over Loyola tonight at Redbird Arena. The Ramblers slip to 16-12 (6-10 Valley) with the loss while Illinois State moves to 17-11 (9-7) with the win.

Both teams got off to hot starts and Loyola used three-pointers from Ben Richardson and Devon Turk to jump out to an early 14-8 lead just over six minutes into the game. Illinois State scored the next five to get within one but a Thomas dunk and a Joe Crisman lay-up pushed the lead back to five again at the midway point of the half. However, Loyola would go cold and the Redbirds took advantage, rattling off eight straight points to grab a three-point lead. The lead ballooned to six before a Thomas basket sent Loyola to the locker room down just four, 26-22. After its hot start, Loyola missed nine of 11 shots over the last 10 minutes of the half and were guilty of four turnovers.

After attempting just two free throws on Wednesday night against Northern Iowa and failing to get to the stripe in the first half, Loyola came out of the locker room more aggressive. Earl Peterson opened the half with a three-pointer, scored on a three-point play and fed Thomas for another basket as the Ramblers pulled within a point (32-31) three minutes into the half. Three-pointers from Daishon Knight and DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell helped slow Loyola's momentum but the Ramblers kept pushing and were down just three after two Peterson free throws.

A three-point play by Knight helped ISU push the lead out to eight with 7:43 left but the Ramblers made a push and were down just two (51-49) after a Turk three-pointer from the right wing. Illinois State's Reggie Lynch answered with a lay-up and a Loyola turnover led to a Knight dunk to get the lead back six. After a defensive stop, Knight converted another three-point play to cap the decisive 7-0 spurt that gave the home team a 58-49 lead with 2:37 to play. Loyola kept pushing but the Redbirds were able to hit enough free throws down the stretch to close out the win.

Loyola rebounded to shoot 46% in the second half to finish at 42% for the game. Illinois State shot a blazing 61% in the final 20 minutes and finished the night at 52%. While both teams grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, the Redbirds did more damage with theirs, outscoring LU 13-6 in second chance points, including a couple of timely buckets.

Thomas paced Loyola with 14 points but shot just 6-of-14 for the game. Turk also reached double figures, posting 11 points, while Peterson (nine points, six assists), James (eight points, six rebounds) and Crisman (seven points) also contributed offensively. Knight scored 19 of his game-high 21 points in the second half to lead Illinois State.

Loyola begins the final week of the regular season with a key game at Drake on Wednesday night. The Ramblers are one-half game ahead of the Bulldogs for the all-important No. 6 seed at Arch Madness. Tip-off from the Knapp Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.