CHICAGO (February 19, 2020)
 
In Short
Tate Hall scored a season-high 28 points and Loyola University Chicago (19-9, 11-4 MVC) used a 25-10 run in the second half to roll to an 84-69 victory over Illinois State (8-19, 3-12 MVC) tonight at Gentile Arena for its fourth straight win overall. The Ramblers have now captured nine straight home games and need one more victory to record 20 or more wins for the third straight season.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"I'm pleased with how we came out in the second half. The key was keeping them off the glass in the second half. I was pleased about our mentality. There was no panic and we did much better against the zone in the second half, plus it helps when you hit some shots."
 
How It Happened
Five different Ramblers scored during an 11-0 run that was punctuated by an Aher Uguak layup that broke a 7-7 stalemate and put Loyola on top, 18-7. The Ramblers drained 8 of their first 11 field goal attempts, but Illinois State answered that Loyola spurt with a 13-5 run of their own to trim the Ramblers' lead to 23-20.
 
Following a Tate Hall layup that bumped the lead to 25-20, Illinois State spun off a 16-8 run capped by a Zach Copeland triple with 2:24 remaining, for a 36-33 ISU edge. The Redbirds would eventually take a 38-34 lead into halftime mostly behind the strength of 43 percent (6-for-14) shooting from beyond the arc.
 
A Keith Fisher basket to open the second-half scoring moved ISU's advantage to 40-34, but Loyola's defense tightened up over the next few minutes, as the Ramblers rattled off seven unanswered points, punctuated by a Marquise Kennedy three to move the hosts back in front, 41-40.
 
The back-and-forth battle finally swung Loyola's way for good when a Cameron Krutwig layup sparked a 12-4 run that included threes from Keith Clemons and Hall, giving the Ramblers a 59-52 lead. Following four straight Redbirds points that cut the gap to 59-56, Hall, knocked down a pair of treys and Lucas Williamson added another in a 10-0 spurt that extended the Loyola advantage to 69-56 and the Ramblers never looked back on the road to victory.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Loyola shot 64.3 percent (18-for-28) from the field in the second half, knocking down 10 of 16 shots from three-point territory in the final stanza. The Ramblers finished the game at 58.5 percent (31-for-53) from the field and 12-for-23 from long range.
• Hall's 28 points are the most by a Loyola newcomer since Milton Doyle had 28 against Northern Iowa on January 25, 2014. The transfer from the University of Indianapolis added five rebounds, three assists and two steals, while hitting 11 of 14 shots from the field, tonight.
• Krutwig narrowly missed a triple-double, registering 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as he picked up his ninth double-double of 2019-20.
• Clemons scored in double figures for the third straight outing, racking up 12 points and Uguak pitched in nine points, five rebounds and three assists, while Williamson put up eight points, five assists, four rebounds and a pair of steals.
• Loyola has won 12 straight games at Gentile Arena versus in-state rivals.
• The Ramblers have now prevailed in 26 of their last 28 home games in Missouri Valley Conference action.
• Zach Copeland led Illinois State with 16 points and five assists.

 
Up Next
Loyola travels to Missouri State Saturday (Feb. 22) for a 2:30 p.m. CT contest that will be televised live on CBS Sports Network.