CHICAGO (February 10, 2020) - Loyola, which has won two of its last three contests, looks for its second straight win overall and will try to improve to 7-1 this season versus opponents from the state of Indiana when it visits Evansville Wednesday night. Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Loyola is 13-11 (.542) on the road in Missouri Valley Conference games, but has dropped each of its last three away from home.
 
The Ramblers entered the week ranked tied for 12th in NCAA Division I play in scoring defense (61.0). However, after limiting opponents to 60.4 points per game on 42.7 percent (508-for-1189) shooting from the field and 35 percent (184-for-526) accuracy from three-point range through the first 23 games of the season, the opposition has managed 68.0 ppg, while knocking down 52.8 percent (56-for-106) of its field goal tries, including 47.6 percent (20-for-42) from beyond the arc, in the last two contests.
 
In its last two meetings with Evansville, Loyola has averaged 74.0 points per game, while connecting on a blistering 62.4 percent (58-for-93) of its field goal attempts and 52.4 percent (11-for-21) of its three-point tries.
 
With Sunday's victory over Valparaiso, Loyola improved to 9-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points.
 
Loyola – Evansville – The Series
Wednesday marks the 51st time Loyola and Evansville have matched up and the Ramblers trail the series, 28-22, but have won five of the last seven meetings between the teams. Since joining the Missouri Valley Conference, Loyola is 6-7 versus Evansville.
 
Loyola is 10-15 all-time when playing at Evansville and since the start of the 1987-88 campaign is just 3-11 there. The Ramblers have lost three of their last four at Ford Center with their last win there coming on February 18, 2018 (76-66), a victory that clinched them at least a share of the 2018 MVC regular-season title.
 
When the teams met in Chicago last month, Loyola shot a scorching 70.5 percent (31-for-44) from the field and got 20 points from Marquise Kennedy in a 78-44 victory at Gentile Arena. 
 
Scouting Evansville
After getting off to a 9-4 start, which included a win at then-No. 1 Kentucky, Evansville has dropped 12 straight contests, all in Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
The Purple Aces are 5-7 overall at home, but are winless in six games at Ford Center in Valley action. Evansville has not won at home since a 78-76 overtime victory against Murray State on December 21 (6 straight losses).
 
Senior guard KJ Riley is pouring in 12.2 points per game and adds 3.9 rpg and 2.6 apg, while guard Sam Cunliffe chips in 10.9 ppg.
 
Up Next
The Ramblers are back at Gentile Arena Saturday night when they host Northern Iowa at 7 p.m. CT.