Boxscore (PDF)

CHICAGO (November 19, 2017)
 
In Short
Clayton Custer and Marques Townes each fell just short of a double-double to help lead Loyola University Chicago (4-0) to an 88-67 victory over Samford (1-3) this afternoon at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers, who, at 4-0 are off to their best start since opening the 2010-11 campaign with seven consecutive wins, shot 61.7 percent (29-for-47) from the field and equaled a season-high with 11 three-point field goals.
 
How It Happened
Loyola got off to a quick start, using a 10-0 run to build a 13-4 lead before early foul trouble sent Aundre Jackson and Townes to the bench. Samford took advantage of the Ramblers plight and answered right back and strung together a 15-5 spurt to reclaim the lead, at 19-18, before Loyola responded with 12 unanswered points of its own, including back-to-back threes from Bruno Skokna and Lucas Williamson, to go back on top, 30-19.
 
Four straight Bulldog points sliced the Loyola lead to 30-23, but a jumper by Custer ignited a half-closing 11-4 surge that gave the Ramblers a 41-27 lead at the break.
 
Loyola came out on fire to open the second period, stunning Samford with a 13-5 run, capped by a Custer three that just beat the shot clock, for a 54-32 advantage, the Ramblers' largest of the day.
 
But, Samford turned up the defensive pressure and was able to get Loyola out of rhythm, quickly working its way back within single digits (58-49) thanks to a 17-4 surge that featured three treys, the last coming from Triston Chambers.
 
The Bulldogs eventually whittled Loyola's lead down to eight points, the last coming at 71-63 with 5:22 remaining, but over the next four minutes, the Ramblers outscored Samford, 13-2, to put the game out of reach. Townes tallied seven of his 18 points during that late surge.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Custer had his second big game in a row, finishing with 18 points and nine assists, with no turnovers, in 38 minutes of action.
• Townes matched Custer with 18 points of his own, and added eight rebounds and three assists, while hitting 8 of 11 shots from the field.
• Williamson was effective off the bench in his first extended action of the season, totaling 11 points and three boards in 30 minutes, while Donte Ingram added 14 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and a pair of assists.
• Nine of the 10 players to see action for Loyola today scored at least one point, including freshman Christian Negron, who posted two points and a rebound in six minutes off the bench in his collegiate debut.
• Christen Cunningham led Samford with 17 points and five assists.

 
Up Next
The Ramblers host Mississippi Valley State Tuesday night (Nov. 21) at 7 p.m.