GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman (November 27, 2019)
 
In Short
Cameron Krutwig and Tate Hall each scored over 20 points as Loyola University Chicago (4-4) built a double-digit lead in the first half and held off a late rally for a 68-61 victory over Old Dominion (3-5) this afternoon in the seventh-place game at the Cayman Islands Classic. 
 
How It Happened
Loyola got off to a strong start at both ends of the court, forcing eight Monarchs turnovers, and getting eight points from Hall in a 16-6 game-opening run. 
 
Old Dominion would chop that lead in half, getting within 19-14, but a basket from Krutwig started off a string of 11 unanswered points that included a three-pointer from Jalon Pipkins and a conventional three-point play from Krutwig, to push the Ramblers' advantage to 30-14, its largest of the game.
 
Loyola wasn't able to pad the lead and saw the Monarchs run off the final seven points of the half to trim the gap to 30-21 at the half. A stingy Rambler defense limited ODU to 33 percent (9-for-27) shooting in the opening period, including a meager 1-for-7 (.143) from three-point land, while Hall (11), who knocked down a trio of threes, and Krutwig (9) combined for 20 points.
 
A quick bucket from Krutwig opened the second-half scoring and gave the Ramblers another double-digit lead and Old Dominion trimmed the deficit to single digits on five occasions, but each time, Loyola had an answer and stretched the lead back to 10 points.
 
However, following a Marquise Kennedy layup that bumped the Ramblers' lead to 51-41, the Monarchs ran off a 14-5 spurt over the next six minutes and nineteen seconds to get within 56-55 with 2:01 left to play.
 
After failing to close out games in each of the last two days, Loyola did just that today, with Kennedy sinking a pair of clutch free throws with 1:38 remaining and Hall throwing down a dunk to provide some breathing room and nudge the lead to 60-55. From there, the Ramblers converted all eight of their attempts from the charity stripe in the final minute to earn a 68-61 win and snap a two-game losing streak.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Krutwig, who was named to the Cayman Islands Classic All-Tournament Team, totaled a team-high 22 points and added eight rebounds, while Hall had another solid day, racking up 21 points, four rebounds and three assists.
• Several Ramblers provided huge contributions off the bench, led by Jalon Pipkins with eight points, Kennedy with six points, three boards and three assists, and Franklin Agunanne with four points.
• Malik Curry paced Old Dominion with 21 points.

 
Up Next
Loyola is back in action December 3 when it travels to Ball State. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.