EVANSVILLE, Ind. (January 18, 2022)
 
In Short
No. 22 Loyola University Chicago (14-2, 5-0 MVC) shot a sizzling 72 percent (18-for-25) in the second half to pull away for a 77-48 victory over Evansville (4-12, 0-5 MVC) for its 10^th straight win tonight at Ford Center. The Ramblers got a team-high 15 points from Lucas Williamson in dealing the Purple Aces
 
How It Happened
Evansville connected on its first five shots from the field in building a 13-8 early advantage before Loyola turned up the heat on the defensive end. Back-to-back Chris Knight baskets ignited a 14-2 Rambler run that featured five points from Marquise Kennedy that moved Loyola on top, 22-15.
 
The Purple Aces answered that spurt with seven unanswered points of their own before Loyola closed the period by scoring eight of the final ten points, with Lucas Williamson's triple with 1:21 left in the half giving the Ramblers a 30-24 advantage they took into the locker room.
 
After that initial Evansville hot streak from the field, the Ramblers put the clamps down and limited the hosts to just 4-for-20 shooting in the final 15:46 of the half.
 
Loyola hit its first four three-point tries in the second stanza during a 21-7 run that was capped by Keith Clemons' second trey of the night, which extended the Ramblers' lead to 51-31, its largest of the night to that point.
 
That half-opening run sealed the outcome and Loyola would lead by as many as 31 in the second half in rolling to its fourth straight true road win.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Loyola finished the night 27-for-43 (.628) from the field and 10-for-17 (.588) from three-point range. The Ramblers drained 6 of 7 shots from beyond the arc in the second half alone.
• Knight came off the bench to deliver another solid effort, totaling 12 points, three rebounds and three blocks, while Williamson knocked down five threes and finished with 15 points.
• Twelve of the 13 Ramblers to see action scored at least one point, including walk-on Will Alcock, who scored with under a minute left in regulation.
• Clemons and Aher Uguak had eight points each for Loyola, which also received seven points and seven assists from Braden Norris.
• Jawaun Newton scored 13 points to lead Evansville, which was held to 32.7 percent (16-for-49) shooting for the night, including 29.2 percent (7-for-24) in the second half.

 
Up Next
Loyola is back at Gentile Arena Saturday afternoon (Jan. 22) when it hosts Missouri State.