CHICAGO (February 25, 2020)
 
In Short
Cameron Krutwig scored a team-high 17 points and Keith Clemons sealed the outcome with a pair of free throws when it mattered most as Loyola University Chicago (20-10, 12-5 MVC) won at Gentile Arena for the ninth straight outing, edging Drake (18-12, 8-9 MVC), 64-60 tonight. The win gives the Ramblers their first undefeated season at home in conference play (9-0) since they won all seven Midwestern Collegiate Conference contests on their home floor in 1984-85
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"The crowd was a factor for us down the stretch and I can't thank them enough. We found a way to win even when we didn't play our best and that's a good sign, but we need to clean some things up."
 
How It Happened
Cameron Krutwig scored eight of Loyola's first 16 points and Loyola's defense was air-tight in the first eight minutes, limiting Drake to 2 of 6 shooting, while forcing eight turnovers, as it raced out to a 16-8 lead.
 
Drake charged right back however and used a 20-7 run capped by a Liam Robbins dunk to take a 28-23 lead with 3:39 left in the half.
 
Loyola responded, closing the period with seven unanswered points, the final four coming courtesy of Marquise Kennedy, as it took a 31-28 lead at the intermission. The Ramblers forced 14 Bulldogs turnovers in the opening 20 minutes, but Drake hung around thanks to 57 percent (4-for-7) shooting from beyond the arc.
 
After Drake got within a basket, at 33-31, in the opening stages of the second half, Krutwig scored four straight points, including a dunk in transition, as Loyola reeled off eight unanswered tallies as part of a larger 14-4 run that was punctuated by four straight Marquise Kennedy points that left the Ramblers with a 48-35 advantage.
 
Drake cut into the deficit, getting within 55-53 thanks to an 18-7 spurt, but four consecutive Rambler tallies pushed the Loyola lead to 59-53 with 2:47 remaining in regulation. A Liam Robbins jumper was followed by a pair of Tate Hall free throws that seemingly put the Ramblers in control with 40 seconds left to play.
 
However, Loyola misfired on three of its next four foul shots and an Anthony Murphy layup and D.J. Wilkins triple raised tension in Gentile Arena as the Bulldogs got within 62-60 with 13 seconds to go. The Ramblers then turned the ball over, giving Drake a chance to tie or take the lead, but Jonah Jackson's three was long and Clemons corralled the rebound and knocked down a pair of free throws to seal the victory.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Krutwig scored a team-best 17 points and added seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Hall and Kennedy tallied 11 points apiece for Loyola, which hit only one three-point field goal on the night.
• Bruno Skokna, Loyola's lone senior, who was making his final appearance at Gentile Arena, tallied two points and an assist in four minutes, despite being under the weather.
• Clemons added eight points, four boards and two steals.
• Loyola has won 20 or more games in three straight seasons, marking the first time that has happened since the 1961-62 through 1963-64 campaigns.
• The Ramblers forced 21 Drake turnovers on the night.
• Garrett Sturtz led the Bulldogs with 17 points and added eight boards and four steals.

 
Up Next
Loyola wraps up the regular season Saturday (Feb. 29) when it heads downstate to face Bradley at 1 p.m.