CHICAGO (December 15, 2019)
In Short
Redshirt junior
Tate Hall scored all 21 of his points in the second half to help Loyola University Chicago (7-4) shake off a slow start and pick up a 64-45 victory over visiting Norfolk State (3-9) this afternoon at Gentile Arena for its fourth straight win.
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"Tate epitomizes what trust is in the locker room. I called him out at halftime and he responded. I don't know if I've seen a more dominating half since I've been here. He was special in turning it. Give Norfolk State credit. I don't think the score was indicative of how close this game was. I am pleased we found a way to win."
How It Happened
Loyola got off to a sluggish start, connecting on just 5 of its first 21 shots from the field after connecting on 28 of 41 field goals for the game in last year's meeting with Norfolk State, in taking a 13-12 lead. The first half was tightly contested, with neither team leading by more than five points.
A
Jalon Pipkins three-pointer, followed by a pair of free throws from
Marquise Kennedy, snapped a 19-all stalemate and put the Ramblers ahead, 24-19, with 2:25 left in the period and Loyola would eventually take a 24-21 advantage into the locker room at the intermission.
Loyola forced 14 Spartans turnovers in the opening 20 minutes but converted those into only four points. The Ramblers shot just 27.6 percent (8-for-29) from the field and 25 percent (3-for-12) from long distance in the first half, with
Jalon Pipkins accounting for nearly half of Loyola's 24 points (10).
Tate Hall dominated the second 20 minutes and fueled a 9-1 Loyola run in the second half by scoring seven points, the last two on a breakaway dunk, as the Ramblers broke open a 37-29 lead with 12:34 remaining.
Hall accounted for 12 consecutive Ramblers tallies at one point, giving Loyola a 42-34 edge, but Norfolk State sliced the lead in half, closing within 44-41 with 7:31 left to play. However,
Lucas Williamson's first triple of the day and another from Hall were part of a string of eight unanswered points that ran the Ramblers' lead to 52-41, its largest of the day to that point. Minutes later, another trey, this one from
Keith Clemons with 1:14 to go, all but sealed the outcome, and bumped the Loyola advantage to 59-45.
A Look At The Numbers
- In addition to his game-high 21 points, Hall also provided five rebounds, five steals and a pair of assists.
- Krutwig notched his third double-double of the year and the 10thof his career, racking up 14 points and 11 board to go with a half dozen assists and a pair of steals.
- Pipkins tallied a career-best 14 points in 24 minutes off the bench.
- Loyola forced 24 Spartans turnovers on the afternoon and limited them to 6-for-23 (.261) shooting from three-point territory. The Ramblers kept Norfolk State's leading scorer, Jermaine Bishop (13.7 ppg) in check, holding him to six points on 2-for-10 shooting.
- Devante Carter led Norfolk State with 12 points, eight boards and four assists.
Up Next
Loyola faces Vanderbilt in the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase Wednesday (Dec. 18) in Phoenix.
