CHICAGO (December 13, 2020)
 
In Short
Cameron Krutwig scored a game-high 22 points and Marquise Kennedy added 16 to lead Loyola University Chicago (3-0) to a 77-66 victory over UIC (3-2) this afternoon at Credit Union 1 Arena. The Ramblers have now won each of their last eight meetings with the Flames. 
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"I was pleased with our effort. We are not there yet, but we made some toughness plays today."
 
How It Happened
Cameron Krutwig scored 14 first-half points and Marquise Kennedy added 10 off the bench in the opening 10 minutes as Loyola shot 58.6 percent (17-for-29) from the field to take a 41-33 lead at the half. 
 
Tom Welch provided some quality minutes in relief in the first half, scoring five early points, and his three-pointer gave the Ramblers a 19-8 advantage. UIC would claw back and cut the Ramblers deficit to a single point on three occasions, the last coming at 29-28, but 10 unanswered Loyola tallies, highlighted by back-to-back triples from Cooper Kaifes and Kennedy, extended the lead back to double figures at 39-28.
 
Loyola stunned UIC with a flurry at both ends of the floor to open the second half and three straight threes, two from Braden Norris, were part of an 11-0 Ramblers run that turned a six-point lead into a 52-35 advantage, the largest of the day.
 
An 11-2 UIC spurt whittled the Loyola lead down to 54-46, but Kennedy's conventional three-point play bumped the lead back to double figures. Following a UIC basket, the Ramblers scored seven of the game's next nine points to turn a 57-48 lead into a 64-50 advantage and were able to keep the Flames at arm's length the rest of the contest with the lead never slipping under 10 points.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Krutwig topped the 20-point mark for the second time in as many games, finishing with 22 points and four rebounds. He was coming off a 22-point outburst against Chicago State on December 9.
• Kennedy poured in 16 points off the bench and added a pair of rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• Norris scored all 11 of his points in an 11-minue stretch in the second half, while Lucas Williamson pitched in 10 points and eight boards to round out Loyola's cast of double-digit scorers.
• Aher Uguak turned in another solid all-around performance, accounting for seven points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
• Loyola's defense held UIC to 41.4 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent from long range in the second period.
• Loyola has won eight of its last nine games in the month of December.

 
Up Next
Loyola faces No. 19 Richmond in Indianapolis on December 18. Game time is still to be determined.