CHICAGO (January 25, 2022)
 
In Short
Lucas Williamson scored a game-high 20 points and Loyola University Chicago (15-3, 6-1 MVC) rebounded from its first home loss since December 2019, putting forth its best defensive effort of the conference season in a 59-47 victory over Southern Illinois (10-10, 3-5 MVC) tonight at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers have won 11 of their last 12 games overall and 35 of their last 36 contests at Gentile Arena.
 
How It Happened
Down by two (10-8) early in the contest, Loyola got five points each from Keith Clemons and Braden Norris as it ran off 12 unanswered points to stake claim to a 20-10 advantage in a rock fight of a first half. 
 
After Southern Illinois rattled off six straight tallies of its own to shrink the gap to 20-16, Williamson knocked down a pair of three-pointers and Tom Welch added four points, during a half-closing 10-1 spurt that nudged the Ramblers' lead to 30-17 at the intermission.
 
Loyola's defense was superb in the opening period, frustrating the Salukis into just 6-for-21 shooting (.286) and the Ramblers limited SIU's top two scorers – Marcus Domask and Lance Jones – to seven first-half points on just 2-for-9 accuracy from the field.
 
Domask's first field goal of the night opened the second-half scoring, but Aher Uguak answered with a triple to bump the Loyola advantage to 33-19, its largest of the evening. The Ramblers' lead sat at 39-28 following a pair of free throws from Williamson, but SIU mounted a comeback to climb right back into the game, tallying 10 consecutive points to creep within 39-38 with 11:10 remaining.
 
A conventional three-point play from Lucas Williamson and six Braden Norris free throws comprised a 9-2 Loyola spurt that gave the hosts a bit of breathing room, at 48-40, but the Salukis had one more surge left in the tank.
 
Ben Coupet Jr. accounted for Southern Illinois' next five tallies to get the Salukis within three (48-45), but Williamson converted a crucial layup with 2:50 left to go and then added three free throws, while Uguak added another trey and a reverse dunk, during a 10-0 run that allowed Loyola to regain control and earn the win.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Williamson equaled a season high with 20 points, marking the third time in Valley play this season he has reached the 20-point plateau. The veteran guard has now scored in double figures in six consecutive games, the longest stretch of his illustrious career.
• Williamson finished with two rebounds and needs two more boards to become only the 23^rdplayer in program history to accumulate 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in his career.
• Both Uguak and Norris tallied 13 points apiece for Loyola, which won its 21^stconsecutive game versus a team from the state of Illinois.
• Loyola received solid minutes off the bench from Clemons (five points), Welch (four points), Chris Knight (five rebounds, two blocks) and Tate Hall (five rebounds).
• Coupet Jr. scored a team-high 14 points for Southern Illinois, which has dropped five of its last six games.

 
Up Next
Loyola and Southern Illinois tangle again, this time in Carbondale, Ill., Thursday night (Jan. 27) at 7 p.m.