CHICAGO (February 17, 2020) - Loyola brings a three-game win streak into its penultimate home game of the 2019-20 season Wednesday night as Illinois State pays a visit to Gentile Arena. The Ramblers, who are seeking their third straight regular-season league title, have won seven straight home games and have crept within a game of Missouri Valley Conference leader Northern Iowa.

For the first time in over 70 years, Loyola has won 18 or more games in four consecutive seasons. The last time the Ramblers had accomplished the feat was at the beginning of the post-World-War-II era, from the 1945-46 through 1948-49 seasons.

Loyola has won 25 of its last 27 home games in MVC play and is 23-2 (.920) at Gentile Arena in conference action since the start of the 2017-18 campaign. Through their first three years in The Valley, the Ramblers went 11-16 (.407) at home, but over the last four seasons, have gone 29-5 (.853) on the Gentile Arena floor.

This marks only the second time in program history that Loyola has won 10 or more conference contests in three consecutive years. The only other time that has occurred was the 1982-83 through 1984-85 seasons, when the Ramblers were members of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference.

The Ramblers have won 11 straight home games versus in-state rivals since a 67-61 loss to Southern Illinois on February 4, 2017.

Loyola – Illinois State – The Series

Wednesday's game will be the 25th meeting between Loyola and Illinois State and although the Ramblers trail the all-time series, 15-9, they have captured five of the last six matchups. Since joining the Missouri Valley Conference, Loyola is 6-8 versus Illinois State.

Nine of the last 12 meetings between the teams have been decided by eight or fewer points, including a 67-64 decision in favor of Loyola when the Ramblers and Redbirds last hooked up in Chicago on January 12, 2019.

When playing in the Windy City, Loyola is 5-6 all-time against Illinois State but has claimed the last two meetings at Gentile Arena. 

Last month at Redbird Arena, Tate Hall scored a team-high 17 points and Loyola limited ISU to 37.3 percent shooting from the field en route to a 62-50 victory. 

Scouting Illinois State

Illinois State has dropped four of its last five contests, including each of the last two, and are coming off a 65-62 setback to Valparaiso. The Redbirds are 0-10 overall in true road games this season and are winless in seven road league contests.

Redshirt senior guard Zach Copeland leads Illinois State with 15.1 points per game, but he is the lone Redbird scoring in double figures overall. However, in Valley play, freshman guard DJ Horne is putting up 10.9 ppg and redshirt senior guard Jaycee Hillsman contributes 10.8 ppg.

Up Next

The Ramblers travel to Missouri State February 22 for a 2:30 p.m. CT contest that will be televised live on CBS Sports Network.