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CHICAGO (February 4, 2019) - Loyola returns home for a pivotal Missouri Valley Conference showdown with Drake Tuesday night at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers, who are looking to earn a season-series sweep of the Bulldogs for the second straight year and are tied with Illinois State atop the league standings, have won their last seven contests in Rogers Park.

Loyola has won 12 straight Valley home games, with the last setback coming versus Indiana State (61-57), January 3, 2018. The 12 consecutive home victories in conference play marks the longest run since a stretch of a dozen straight, February 1, 1984 through February 8, 1986. The program record for consecutive home league wins is 14.

Loyola – Drake – The Series

Loyola and Drake are matching up for the 31st time in a series that began all the way back in 1934. The Ramblers have claimed seven of the last nine meetings between the teams, including each of the last four.  

When the teams squared off in Des Moines last month, Marques Townes (28) and Clayton Custer (26) combined for 54 points, with each player establishing a career high, as Loyola climbed out of a 16-point, first-half hole to secure an 85-74 victory.

The Ramblers have captured the last six meetings with the Bulldogs in Chicago and are 11-4 all-time against Drake when playing on their home floor. In last year's game at Gentile Arena, Cameron Krutwig accounted for 17 points as Loyola collected its 20th win of the year with a 72-57 decision. Since joining the Missouri Valley Conference, Loyola is 8-3 against Drake.

During its current four-game winning streak in the series, the Ramblers have won by an average margin of 16 points and have shot 54.7 percent (128-for-234) from the field in those games.

Scouting Drake

Despite being picked ninth in the MVC Preseason Poll, Drake has weathered a season-ending injury to starting point guard Nick Norton (14.0 ppg, 5.9 apg) and finds itself just one game behind Loyola and Illinois State for the league lead.

The Bulldogs have won five of their last six outings and are coming off a 68-62 decision at Indiana State over the weekend. Under the guidance of first-year coach Darian DeVries, Drake is 5-3 in true road games this season but has claimed its last three games away from home.

Senior forward Nick McGlynn is in contention for MVC Player of the Year accolades this season, averaging 15.7 ppg and 8.3 rpg.

Up Next

Loyola visits Valparaiso February 10 in a game that will be televised on ESPNU.