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CHICAGO -

Final Score: Loyola 67, Evansville 61
Records: Loyola (14-7, 4-4 MVC); Evansville (10-11, 1-7 MVC)
Location: Gentile Arena -- Chicago, Ill.
Stats: Box Score  | Statistics 

In Short
Loyola University Chicago received 33 points from its bench, including a go-ahead three-pointer form Bruno Skokna with 4 minutes remaining, to power the Ramblers to a 67-61 victory over Evansville (10-11, 1-7 MVC) this afternoon at Gentile Arena. The win moves Loyola to 14-7 overall and 4-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Coach Moser's Thoughts
“Our guys were down after the loss to UNI and today we had to play one of the toughest teams to guard. I just want to say thank you to our crowd, our students, our alumni, for coming. Please come back! You provided a lift for our guys today and you make a difference.”

How It Happened
Loyola used a 13-2 run in the first half to turn a three-point deficit into a 22-14 lead, the Ramblers’ largest advantage of the game. Tyson Smith, who provided a huge lift off the bench with five rebounds, ignited the spurt with a three-pointer and Ben Richardson also added a pair of threes during that surge.

Donte Ingram’s layup with 2:36 left in the first half put the Ramblers on top, 28-22, but the Purple Aces finished the period by scoring six of the next eight points to close to 30-28 at the break. Loyola had some great looks in the first half but couldn’t get perimeter shots to fall as it connected on just 3 of 15 attempts from three-point range.

Evansville took its first lead since the 10:14 mark of the first half when Jaylon Brown connected on a layup to give the Purple Aces a slim 50-49 advantage with 6:24 left in regulation.

But, Loyola answered right back. A three-point play from Aundre Jackson put Loyola back in front by a basket (52-50), and after the teams traded scores, Skokna buried a three-point from the corner to give the Ramblers a 57-54 lead they would never relinquish.

Ryan Taylor’s three-pointer with 2:28 left cut Loyola’s lead to 60-59, but a Skokna layup and pair of free throws from Milton Doyle gave the Ramblers some breathing room and LU hit three of four free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the outcome and improve to 10-1 at Gentile Arena this season.

A Look At The Numbers
- Skokna scored 13 points off the bench and hit all six of his free throw attempts for his best scoring output since going for a season-high 15 points against Eureka on November 14.
- Jackson finished with a team-high 17 points and added five rebounds off the bench.
- Doyle added 14 points, five boards, three assists and a pair of steals as he scored in double digits for the 22nd consecutive contest.
- Richardson pitched in 10 points and three steals for Loyola, which shot 52 percent from the field in the second half. - Evansville received a game-high 21 points from Duane Gibson.
- The win came on a day when Loyola inducted team chaplain Sr. Jean Dolores Schmidt into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame.

Up Next
Loyola hosts Bradley on January 25 at 7 p.m.