PHOENIX (December 18, 2019)
 
In Short
Junior center Cameron Krutwig recorded a triple-double, totaling 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, to power Loyola University Chicago (8-4) to a 78-70 victory over Vanderbilt (6-4) this afternoon at Talking Stick Resort Arena in a Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase game. The Ramblers have now won three straight and five of their last six matchups with Southeastern Conference opponents.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"Krutwig responds to adversity throughout a game. He could've easily had 15 assists today. He's just an old-school center who knows how to play the game of basketball."
 
How It Happened
A Paxson Wojcik three-pointer tied the game at 12-12 nearly nine minutes into the contest, but six unanswered points, five from Phoenix native Saben Lee, gave the Commodores a 20-14 advantage, matching their largest lead of the first half.
 
However, a bucket from Krutwig sparked a string of 10 consecutive Loyola points that turned that six-point deficit into a 24-20 lead, with back-to-back dunks from Tate Hall giving the Ramblers their first lead of the night (22-20). The Ramblers' lead would swell to as many as six (33-27) on a layup from Marquise Kennedy and the Maroon and Gold took a 35-31 edge into the locker room at the intermission.
 
Vanderbilt would eventually rally and tie the game at 52-52 with 7:48 left to play, but three-pointers from Lucas Williamson and Hall were part of a 10-2 Ramblers run that put Loyola back on top, 62-54, with 5:04 remaining in regulation. 
 
The Ramblers pushed their lead to as many as 10 points (67-57) when Krutwig drained a pair of foul shots with 2:51 to go and were able to hold off the Commodores' rally in the closing minutes. Loyola converted 13 of its 22 field goal attempts in the second period alone.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• This is the second game this season in which Krutwig has dished out double-digit assists. He handed out a career-best 11 assists in the season opener versus UC Davis (Nov. 5).
• Hall scored 11 of his 16 points in the second period and Kennedy came off the bench to produce 11 points and a pair of steals for the Ramblers, who connected on 56 percent (28-for-50) of their field goal attempts.
• Keith Clemons tallied eight points and a season-best eight assists, and as a team, Loyola finished with 22 assists on 28 field goals.
• Krutwig's triple-double was the first by a Missouri Valley Conference player since Nick Norton (Drake) did so December 1, 2018, versus North Dakota State (18 points, 13 rebounds, 17 assists).
• Aaron Nesmith led Vanderbilt with 23 points.
• With the victory, Porter Moser tied legendary Ramblers coach Gene Sullivan (1980-89) for the third-most wins in Loyola history (149). 

 
Up Next
The Ramblers host Davidson Sunday (Dec. 22) at 2 p.m.