Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (February 27, 2019)
 
In Short
Aher Uguak's dunk with 54 seconds remaining gave visiting Loyola University Chicago (18-12, 11-6 MVC) the lead for good and it held on in the closing seconds to earn a 56-55 victory over Northern Iowa (14-16, 9-8 MVC). With the win, Loyola maintains a share of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference, tied with Drake atop the standings.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"That was two teams fighting in late February for a win. I thought it was a great college basketball game and I'm proud of our guys for gutting it out."
 
How It Happened
Making his first appearance since January 19, Lucas Williamson knocked down his first shot of the game, a three-pointer from the top of the key, to put the Ramblers on the board first. UNI would go on to score 13 of the next 19 points, hitting a trio of threes, to stake claim to a 13-9 lead. But, Williamson, who hit his first three shots of the game, including two from beyond the arc, helped Loyola reclaim the lead.
 
After a baseline jumper from Cooper Kaifes, Williamson went coast to coast for a layup after a steal, then knocked down his second triple before Marques Townes added a free throw to put the Ramblers back on top, 17-16.
 
Following a UNI three that cut the Ramblers' lead to a single point, Townes scored five points as part of a 10-2 spurt, punctuated by a long trey from Kaifes, that extended the Loyola advantage to 27-18, its largest of the night to that point.
 
The Ramblers, who have had their fair share of shooting struggles on the road this season, hit 5 of 11 shots from deep in the opening 20 minutes to help fuel their 32-23 halftime lead and they valued the basketball, committing just three turnovers.
 
Loyola got off to a sluggish start at the offensive end at the outset of the second half, allowing UNI to chop the deficit down to 33-29, but three points from Townes and a bucket from Krutwig gave the Ramblers a little breathing room and a 38-29 lead.
 
AJ Green got hot though, and helped power the Panthers back into the game. Green scored 13 of UNI's first 19 points in the second half. UNI assembled a 12-2 run capped by a three from Spencer Haldeman to retake the lead, 45-43, with 8:44 left to play.
 
UNI expanded that advantage to 49-46 before a jumper from Townes and another three from Williamson comprised a 5-0 burst that put Loyola back on top, 51-49, with 3:28 remaining.
 
Two free throws from Wyatt Lohaus knotted the score at 51. After the teams traded baskets, Clayton Custer found Aher Uguak slicing through the lane for a dunk with 55 left that put Loyola ahead, 55-53.
 
After a defensive stop, Krutwig missed the front end of a one and one opportunity, but Loyola corralled the rebound and Williamson buried the second of two throws to bump the Loyola lead to 56-53.
 
Green's layup cut the lead to 56-55, but following a Loyola turnover with 9.1 seconds left Green missed a jumper from the top of the key as Loyola held on for a huge road win.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Townes scored a team-high 16 points and added eight boards for Loyola, which also got 14 points, eight boards and three assists from Krutwig, who extended his streak of double-figure-scoring games to 17.
• Williamson finished with 12 points, four rebounds and four steals in his first action since January 19, and Kaifes added eight points off the bench.
• Green scored a game-high 18 points to lead UNI.

 
Up Next
Loyola closes out the 2018-19 regular season Saturday at 5 p.m. when it hosts Bradley before a sold-out crowd on Senior Night. The Ramblers will honor seniors Clayton Custer and Marques Townes in a pregame ceremony.