Boxscore (PDF)

CHICAGO (January 17, 2018)
 
In Short
Donte Ingram scored a season-high 25 points and Cameron Krutwig added 18 points to power Loyola University Chicago (15-4, 5-2 MVC) to a 79-65 victory over Southern Illinois (11-9, 3-4 MVC) tonight at Gentile Arena. The win gives the Ramblers their longest winning streak in conference play – four games – since the 2006-07 season, when it was a member of the Horizon League.
 
Porter Moser's Thoughts
"Southern Illinois is one of the most physical teams we have played all year. They don't quit. I'm proud of our guys to grind it out in a tough, physical game."
 
How It Happened
Loyola came out of the starting blocks on fire and raced out to a 19-6 lead, forcing six Southern Illinois turnovers during that stretch. The Salukis answered right back, ripping off 12 unanswered points to close within a single tally (19-18) before a Ben Richardson three-pointer slowed the SIU momentum and opened a stretch of seven straight Loyola points.
 
Richardson's trey was the first basket in a 16-5, half-closing Loyola spurt that was punctuated by a Clayton Custer layup just before the halftime buzzer that sent the Ramblers into the locker room on top, 35-23.
 
The Ramblers, who overcame 11 turnovers of their own in the first half alone, shot 51.9 percent (14-for-27) from the field and limited the Salukis to 30 percent (9-for-30), including just 1 of 9 from three-point territory in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Kavion Pippen's dunk with 13:46 remaining in the game brought Southern Illinois within 10 points (47-37), but Ingram drained a pair of threes as part of an 11-4 run that pushed Loyola's lead to 58-41, matching its largest of the evening, and at least temporarily gave the Ramblers some breathing room.
 
Southern Illinois wouldn't go away quietly and make a late charge, cutting Loyola's lead down to 10 points (65-55) one last time on Armon Fletcher's layup with a little over three and a half minutes remaining. Once again, the Ramblers had an answer, this time, it was Krutwig scoring to spark an 8-2 surge that culminated with a three-pointer and then a free throw from Ingram, for a comfortable 73-57 advantage.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Ingram's 25 points are his most since dropping 25 on UNI on January 4, 2017, and he also pitched in seven rebounds, three steals, an assist and a block, while hitting 5-of-8 attempts from three-point land.
• Krutwig fell one rebound shy of recording his second straight double-double, finishing with nine boards, while Custer pitched in 12 points.
• Sean Lloyd scored 21 points to lead Southern Illinois.

 
Up Next
Loyola opens up a two-game road trip Sunday (Jan. 21) afternoon when it visits Valparaiso.