Boxscore (PDF) 

CHICAGO (February 14, 2018)
 
In Short
Donte Ingram scored 14 points in the final 6:38 to help Loyola University Chicago (22-5, 12-3 MVC) outlast Valparaiso (13-15, 4-11 MVC), 80-71, tonight at Gentile Arena for its fourth straight win and 11^th in the last 12 outings. The Ramblers, who need either a win or a Southern Illinois loss to wrap up at least a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular season crown, have now prevailed in 15 of their last 16 home games.
 
Porter Moser's Thoughts
"I'm really proud of our guys. Valpo gave us everything and more tonight. Donte (Ingram) really stepped up in the second half and Clay (Custer) was efficient again with 20 points on 11 shots."
 
How It Happened
Loyola 's defense was superb early on, forcing Valparaiso to misfire on its first seven field goal attempts. The Ramblers darted out to a 7-1 lead, but the Crusaders erased the deficit thanks to a 10-2 run that put the visitors on top,11-9.
 
Minutes later, trailing 12-11, Cameron Krutwig ignited an 11-2 Loyola run, that included six unanswered points at the outset of the spurt. A three from Clayton Custer punctuated the run and gave the Ramblers a 22-14 lead.
 
Ingram's first field goal of the night gave Loyola its largest lead of the period, at 28-19, and a late bucket by Jaume Sorolla allowed Valpo to cut the gap to 28-21 at the half. The Ramblers' defense was phenomenal in the opening 20 minutes, limiting the Crusaders to a paltry 25 percent (6-for-24) from the field.
 
Valpo opened the second period with seven answered points to knot the score at 28, but a Marques Townes three-pointer from the right corner put Loyola back on top and after bucket by Custer, a thunderous tip dunk by Aundre Jackson brought the crowd to its feet and stretched the lead to 35-30.
 
Valparaiso fought back and tied the game, but a 6-0 Rambler run that included a three by Lucas Williamson and was capped by a Townes layup, put Loyola ahead to stay, at 48-42.
 
The Ramblers weren't able to shake free and gain much breathing room, however, and the Crusaders were able to close within three points on a handful of occasions, the last coming on Jaume Sorolla's layup with 4:43 remaining that trimmed Loyola's lead to 64-61.
 
But, Ingram would go on to score Loyola's next eight points as the Ramblers extended the lead to 72-64, and they would not look back on their way to their 22^nd win of the season.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Custer finished with a game-high 20 points, on 8-of-11 shooting, and added three assists, while Ingram totaled 16 points, six boards, four assists and a pair of steals.
• Krutwig scored in double figures for the 10^th straight game, totaling 18 points and seven boards, and Townes rounded out Loyola's cast of double-digit scorers with 10 points.
• The Ramblers turned the ball over just six times on the night ad shot 60.7 percent (17-for-28) from the field in the second half alone.
• Valpo was led by Tevonn Walker's 18 points.

 
Up Next
The Ramblers look to clinch at least a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title when they visit Evansville on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m.