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CHICAGO (December 29, 2018) - After playing a challenging nonconference schedule, Loyola commences Missouri Valley Conference play Wednesday night when it hosts Indiana State. The Ramblers are seeking their first win in a Valley opener since a 64-49 decision over Bradley December 31, 2014. Loyola is 1-4 in MVC openers since joining the conference in 2013-14.

The Ramblers bring a seven-game, home-court winning streak in Valley play into Wednesday's contest and they have also won eight of their last nine home league outings. Indiana State dealt Loyola its lone home defeat last year, 61-57, January 3, 2018. Loyola has limited three straight opponents to fewer than 50 points for the first time since December 22-31, 2014, and over that stretch is yielding 47.0 ppg and holding teams to 33.3 percent (55-for-165) shooting from the field and 28.8 percent (21-for-73) from long range.

Loyola – Indiana State – The Series

Wednesday's game is the 28th meeting between the teams in a series that dates back to 1924. Although Indiana State possesses a 15-12 advantage in the all-time series, Loyola has prevailed in five of the last seven matchups. When the teams last met, February 10, 2018 in Terre Haute, five Ramblers scored in double digits, led by Donte Ingram with 17 points, as Loyola rallied from a seven-point deficit in the second half to notch a 75-71 victory.

Loyola is 6-6 all-time against Indiana State in Chicago but just 2-3 since joining the Missouri Valley Conference. The Ramblers are 5-7 overall against Indiana State since joining The Valley.

Forty-one years ago this month, Loyola picked up a 79-76 decision over then-13th-ranked Indiana State. With 18 points and 23 rebounds, Larry Knight led the Ramblers to the upset win January 30, 1978 at Alumni Gym, despite 28 points, 16 boards and six assists from Sycamores legend Larry Bird.

Scouting Indiana State

After winning five of its first six contests, Indiana State has gone 3-3 and is coming off a runner-up finish at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. The Sycamores are 2-2 in true road games this season, with one of those defeats coming at the hands of Ball State (86-69) in the 2018-19 opener.

The backcourt duo of Jordan Barnes (20.8 ppg), who leads the MVC in scoring, and Tyreke Key (16.9 ppg) is combining for over 37 points per game. Indiana State is the top three-point shooting club in The Valley, knocking down shots from behind the arc at a 45 percent (76-for-169) clip. Barnes and Key have combined to shoot 53 percent (52-for-98) from triple territory.

Up Next

Loyola takes to the road over the weekend, visiting Drake January 5 at 2 p.m.