CHICAGO (November 22, 2019) - Loyola puts a modest two-game win streak on the line Monday when it takes on South Florida in a first-round game at the 2019 Cayman Islands Classic. The Ramblers will be seeking their first three-game run since February 27 thru March 8, 2019. Loyola, which will face either Colorado State or New Mexico State Tuesday, has prevailed in 11 of its last 15 outings played at neutral sites.

In their last pair of contests, the Ramblers are racking up 85.0 points per game and shooting a robust 58.5 percent (62-for-106) from the field and 43.3 percent (13-for-30) from triple territory. In each of the last three seasons, Loyola has ranked in the top 17 in the nation in field goal percentage and currently ranks No. 8 (.536).

Loyola has scored 80 or more points three times in the first five outings of 2019-20. The last time the Ramblers put up 80 or more points at least three times in their first five games of a season was 2002-03. In its wins this year, Loyola is averaging a whopping 84.0 ppg and connecting on 57.4 percent (97-for-169) of its field goal attempts.

Freshman guard Marquise Kennedy, who is converting 62.1 percent (18-for-29) of his field goal attempts in Loyola's last four outings, is contributing 15.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 bpg and 1.0 spg, hitting 67.8 percent (10-for-15) of his field goal tries as well as an identical 66.7 percent (4-for-6) from beyond the arc, in the last two games.

Loyola – South Florida – The Series

Loyola and South Florida are meeting for just the second time ever and the first since November 17, 2012, during Porter Moser's second season on the Ramblers' bench. That previous meeting was part of the USF Invitational in Tampa.

Ben Averkamp and Devon Turk scored nine points apiece to lead Loyola in that game, but the Bulls shot 50 percent from the field to earn a 68-50 victory.

The Ramblers are 28-43 (.394) all-time versus current members of the American Athletic Conference.

Scouting South Florida

South Florida put an end to a two-game slide with a 69-55 victory against Wofford Thursday night. The Bulls will be playing their first game away from home this season and are forcing a whopping 21.8 turnovers per contest, but shooting only 29.7 percent (27-for-91) from beyond the arc this year.

Guards David Collins and Laquincy Rideau pace the Bulls, who put up only 63.0 ppg as a team, with 14.5 ppg and 12.5 ppg respectively. Sophomore guard Xavier Castaneda was a teammate of Loyola junior guard Lucas Williamson when both played at Whitney Young High School in Chicago.

Up Next

Loyola continues play at the Cayman Islands Classic November 26.