CHICAGO (January 29, 2021) - Loyola brings a six-game winning streak, its longest since a 14-game run in 2017-18, into Sunday's showdown at Missouri State. The Ramblers have won 10 of their last 11 outings and at 8-1 are off to their best start in conference play since going 13-1 in Midwestern Collegiate Conference action in 1984-85. Loyola has won four straight road games and six of its last eight away from home in Missouri Valley Conference play. 

Loyola needs two more Valley victories to reach double-digit league wins for a fourth straight season, which would be a program record. The Ramblers have earned 10 or more conference wins seven times in program history, with three of those occasions coming in the last three seasons. 

Since the start of the 2017-18 campaign, Loyola has notched 19 road wins in Missouri Valley action, the most by any Valley team during that stretch. Drake ranks second with 14 league wins away from home in the last four seasons, followed by Missouri State (13).

The Ramblers are allowing only 50.3 points per game and holding opponents to 38.2 percent (76-for-199) shooting from the field and 26.5 percent (18-for-68) from three-point land, in their last four road games.

Loyola – Missouri State – The Series

Loyola and Missouri State are meeting for the 16th time in a closely contested series that the Ramblers lead by the slightest of margins, at 8-7. The Bears have taken three of the last four meetings between the teams.

Since joining the Missouri Valley Conference, Loyola is 7-7 against Missouri State. When playing in Springfield, the Ramblers are just 2-5 all time and have dropped four straight at JQH Arena since a 75-62 victory there on February 21, 2016.

When the teams last met, on February 22, 2020, the Bears built an 18-point halftime lead and held on for a 74-62 decision despite 16 points off the bench from Marquise Kennedy.

Missouri State was the last team to sweep a regular-season series from Loyola (2018-19) and the Bears are the only Valley program with a winning record (4-2) against the Ramblers since the start of the 2017-18 campaign.

Scouting Missouri State

Missouri State is coming off back-to-back close losses to MVC leader, Drake, and has won five of its last seven contests overall. The Bears are 6-2 at JQH Arena this season and at 78.9 points per game, Missouri State ranks second in The Valley in scoring offense, just behind Drake (82.5 ppg).

Sophomore guard Isiaih Mosley leads the MVC and ranks second in the nation in scoring with 22.9 ppg, and adds 6.3 rpg and 3.3 apg, while senior forward Gaige Prim provides an inside presence with 17.1 ppg and a league-best 9.8 rpg.

Up Next

Loyola finally returns to Gentile Arena next weekend when it welcomes Evansville for a two-game set, February 6 and 7.