Boxscore (PDF)

CHICAGO (March 2, 2019)
 
In Short
Playing in his final regular season home game, redshirt senior Marques Townes scored a game-high 26 points to help Loyola University Chicago (19-12, 12-6 MVC) earn a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title with an 81-68 victory over Bradley (17-14, 9-9 MVC) this evening at Gentile Arena. This marks the first time in program history Loyola has ever won back-to-back regular season conference crowns.
 
How It Happened
After falling behind by as many as five points early, Loyola righted itself, taking the lead for good by using a 21-6 run, with Townes accounting for nine of those tallies, to open up a 30-19 lead. The Ramblers were able to push their advantage to as many as 19 points (48-29) in the opening period, thanks to Cameron Krutwig's old-fashioned three-point play with 41 seconds remaining in the half.
 
Loyola was red hot from the field in the opening period, converting 63 percent (17-for-27) of its attempts, and knocking down 5 of 11 shots from three-point territory. Townes (18) and Krutwig (12) played key roles in that first-half outburst, combining for 30 points, while Lucas Williamson added eight despite sitting the final nine minutes due to foul trouble.
 
Bradley cut into the Loyola lead in the second half, tallying seven unanswered scores to trim its deficit to 54-42, eventually working its way within 11 points, at 61-50, on Darrell Brown's three-pointer with 11:57 left.
 
However, minutes later, Clayton Custer helped the Ramblers extend their lead to 72-54, scoring seven points, including his second three-pointer of the game, in an 11-4 burst. From that point, Bradley never got closer than 12 points.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Townes finished with 26 points and added three rebounds on Senior Night, while fellow senior Clayton Custer delivered 15 points, three boards and five assists.
• Krutwig was steady again, contributing 16 points, five rebounds and six assists, and Williamson totaled 10 points, six caroms and four steals in his second game back from a hand injury. 
• The Ramblers shot 58.7 percent (27-for-46) from the field and committed just 10 turnovers.
• Loyola has now won 15 of its last 16 MVC home games.
• Darrell Brown led Bradley with 16 points and five assists.

 
Up Next
Loyola will be the No. 1 seed at next week's Missouri Valley Conference Championship in St. Louis. The Ramblers will play at noon against the winner of the No. 8 versus No. 9 seed.