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CHICAGO (March 6, 2019) -Top-seeded Loyola opens play at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship Friday afternoon with a quarterfinal round matchup versus the winner of the No. 8 Indiana State versus No. 9 Valparaiso game. The Ramblers have won three of their last four contests this season and are 8-1 in their last nine games in the month of March. The Ramblers are guaranteed their third straight winning season, something they haven't achieved since recording four consecutive campaigns with more wins than losses - 1981-82 (17-12), 1982-83 (19-10), 1983-84 (20-9) and 1984-85 (27-6).

Loyola has won back-to-back regular season conference titles for the first time in program history and is looking to earn consecutive NCAA tournament berths for the first time since 1962-63 and 1963-64. Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Loyola has notched 51 wins, going 51-18 (.739). The 51 victories are tied for the program's most over a two-year span, equaling the mark set in 1962-63 (29) and 1963-64 (22). One more victory would also give the Ramblers two straight 20-win seasons for the first time since 1983-84 (20-9) and 1984-85 (27-6).

In its last four Arch Madness contests, Loyola has surrendered just 50.8 ppg and limited opponents to 37.5 percent (80-for-213) shooting from the field and a paltry 26.8 percent (19-for-71) from long distance.

Loyola – Indiana State – The Series

Loyola and Indiana State would be meeting for the 30th time in a series that began in 1924. The Ramblers possess a 16-13 edge in the all-times series and have won seven of the last nine meetings, including each of the last three. Since joining The Valley, Loyola is 7-7 against Indiana State and the teams have split their two previous Arch Madness matchups, with the Sycamores prevailing in 2014 (75-62), before the Ramblers exacted revenge with an 81-53 decision in 2015.

Loyola swept the season series this year, rolling to a 79-44 victory in Chicago before earning a 75-67 decision in Terre Haute. Aher Uguak played his best basketball of the season versus Indiana State, averaging 14.5 points and 2.5 steals per game, hitting 75 percent (12-for-16) of his shots, including all three from beyond the arc.

Over their last three games against the Sycamores, the Ramblers are shooting a sizzling 54.4 percent from the field (80-for-147). Going back one more contest versus Indiana State, Loyola is connecting on an impressive 50 percent (35-for-70) of its attempts from three-point territory.

Scouting Indiana State

Indiana State has split its last eight contests, but is closed out the regular season with a convincing 71-54 victory over UNI last Saturday. The Sycamores are 2-1 on neutral floors this season and rank second in The Valley in three-point field goal percentage, connecting on 36.9 percent (172-for-466) of their attempts

The high-scoring backcourt tandem of sophomore Tyreke Key (17.3 ppg) and junior Jordan Barnes (14.7 ppg) leads an Indiana State offense that puts up 69.7 points per game. Meanwhile, freshman guard Cooper Neese has come on of late and is contributing 14.4 ppg over the last eight contests.

Loyola – Valparaiso – The Series

The Ramblers and Crusaders would be squaring off for the 54th time and Loyola is in control of the series, with a 38-15 advantage. The Maroon and Gold has captured five of the last six encounters between the clubs, including four straight. Loyola is 4-0 against Valparaiso since the schools became conference mates in the Missouri Valley Conference and the programs have yet to meet in postseason play in their long-standing rivalry.

When the teams last met, February 10 in Valparaiso, the Ramblers overcame a seven-point deficit with 7:41 remaining as Marques Townes, who finished with 18 points, took over and willed Loyola to a 56-51 victory. In the matchup at Gentile Arena in January, Loyola coasted to a 71-54 decision as six Ramblers scored in double figures, led by Aher Uguak, Cameron Krutwig and Cooper Kaifes with 12 points apiece. 

Scouting Valparaiso

Valpo has been bitten often by the injury bug this season and since sprinting out to a 4-0 record in Valley play, dropped 11 of its final 14 contests. The Crusaders finished up the regular season on a three-game slide, falling to Evansville, 65-63, in last weekend's finale. 

Junior forward Derrik Smits, the son of former Indiana Pacers star Rik Smits, leads the Crusaders with 12.5 ppg and 5.7 rpg, while shooting 59.9 percent (145-for-242) from the field. Freshman guard Javon Freeman, who was a high school teammate of Loyola sophomore guard Lucas Williamson at Whitney Young High School in Chicago, contributes 10.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.8 spg.

Valparaiso ranks third in the conference in three-point field goal percentage defense (.334), but sits dead last itself in three-point field goal percentage (.320).

Up Next

With a win Friday, Loyola would advance to the semifinal round of the MVC Championship, Saturday (March 9) at 2:30 p.m. That game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network.