EVANSVILLE, Ind.

Final Score: Evansville 60, Loyola 58
Records: Loyola (16-10, 6-7 MVC); Evansville (12-14, 3-10 MVC)
Location: Ford Center -- Evansville, Ind.
Stats: Box Score 

In Short
Jaylon Brown's basket with 2:04 remaining broke a 56-56 tie and gave Evansville (12-14, 3-10 MVC) the lead for good as Loyola University Chicago (16-10, 6-7 MVC) dropped a 60-58 decision tonight at Ford Center. The loss spoiled another heroic comeback from a double-digit deficit in the second half as Loyola climbed its way out of a 15-point hole.

How It Happened
Evansville used an 11-0 run in the first half to break a tie and open up a 21-10 lead as Loyola went on a prolonged scoring drought that lasted 6 minutes and 43 seconds. A Milton Doyle layup, his first bucket of the night, with 5:12 remaining in the period cut the deficit to 25-20, but the Purple Aces reeled off six unanswered points to extend their lead back to double figures and took a 36-24 lead into the break.

Loyola committed an uncharacteristic nine turnovers in the opening period and wasn't able to get much going offensively after the first four minutes of the half.

After the Purple Aces opened the second-half scoring with a three-pointer to claim a 39-24 lead, Loyola attacked the basket at the offensive end and whittled the deficit down to 42-36 with a 12-3 spurt. Three straight threes from the Ramblers got them within 47-45, but Evansville extended its lead back to 50-45 before Custer buried another trey to get Loyola within two again.

Doyle's layup with 8:37 remaining capped a stirring comeback from a 15-point hole to even the score at 50 and Donte Ingram's basket put Loyola on top, (52-50) for the first time since the opening minutes of the contest.

Evansville charged back and took a 58-56 lead on a bucket by Jaylon Brown with 2:04 left to play, and Dru Smith added a layup with 11 seconds left to seal the win for the Purple Aces.

A Look At The Numbers
- Clayton Custer scored a team-high 18 points for Loyola.
- The Ramblers turned the ball over an uncharacteristic 17 times.
- Ryan Taylor had 16 points to lead Evansville.

Up Next
Loyola returns to Gentile Arena Sunday (Feb. 12) at 3 p.m. when it hosts Wichita State in a game that will be televised on ESPNU.