Loyola University Chicago Athletics

CHICAGO, Ill. (November 11, 2022)
 
In Short…
Loyola University Chicago (2-0) shot just over 55 percent (27-for-49) as it used a key run during the second half to erase a five-point deficit en route to fending off city rival UIC (1-1), 70-63, this evening at Credit Union 1 Arena on Chicago's West Side.
 
How It Happened
UIC looked to take command early before a boisterous home crowd, jumping out to a 7-2 lead following a Jace Carter layup at the 17:59 mark.  A triple from Tom Welch sparked an 8-0 Loyola tear that was punctuated by buckets inside from Philip Alston and Ben Schwieger, respectively, that vaulted the Ramblers in front, 10-7.
 
A Schwieger dunk with 13:40 to play broke a 12-12 tie and laid the foundation for another push from the Maroon & Gold, as Loyola rattled off eight unanswered points to open up a 20-12 lead following a Bryce Golden layup.
 
UIC continued to hang around, taking advantage of its trips to the free throw line, as it pulled back within one, 27-26, on Christian Jones' jumper.  Another Alston score stretched the lead back to six, 32-26, but the Flames stayed within striking distance, as the Ramblers took a 34-31 edge into halftime.
 
Tre Anderson snapped a lengthy three-point cold spell for UIC three minutes into the second half when he knocked down the Flames' first triple of the night to give the hosts a 37-36 advantage.  Buckets on consecutive trips from Jalen Jackson and Anderson pushed the margin to five, 47-42, at the 13:14 mark.
 
Following a Jaden Brownell basket with 11:29 to play in regulation, Loyola locked in defensively, holding UIC without a make from the field for over nine minutes.  Alston muscled up a shot inside with 8:48 to play to pull the Ramblers even, 52-52, before a second-chance conventional three-point play from Saint Thomas put the Maroon & Gold back on top, 55-52, two minutes later.  A Welch flush capped off a 10-0 Rambler run that pushed the gap to 57-52.
 
After seeing Welch convert again inside to give Loyola its largest lead of the game, 65-56, with 2:40 to play, UIC clawed back within four, 65-61, after a Brownell triple and two free throws from Jace Carter.  Any hopes of a comeback by the hosts were put to rest by Thomas, who came up with another key old-fashioned three-point play with only 25 seconds to play that reestablished a seven-point lead for Loyola, 68-61, en route to securing its 10^th straight victory over its rival to the west.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Alston led a group of four Ramblers in double figures with 18 points (8-15 FGs, 2-4 FTs) and seven rebounds.
- For the second time in as many games, Welch was perfect from the field as part of a 13-point effort (6-6 FGs, 1-1 FTs).
- Schwieger and Golden both provided a lift off the bench, with Schwieger putting up 14 points (6-9 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 1-3 FTs), while Golden contributed 12 points (4-5 FGs, 4-4 FTs) and seven rebounds.
- After being held scoreless in the first half, Thomas finished his night with eight points (2-4 FGs, 4-4 Fts), three assists, and three steals.
- Loyola turned in a dominant showing on the glass, outrebounding UIC by a 37-25 margin.
- The Ramblers also flexed their muscle inside, putting up 50 of their 70 points inside the painted area.
- Anderson led all scorers with 20 points (5-5 FGs, 1-6 3FGs, 9-13 FTs) for UIC.
 
Up Next
Loyola opens play at the Myrtle Beach Invitational on Thursday, November 17 when it takes on Tulsa in a quarterfinal-round matchup.  Tip-off from inside the HTC Center in Conway, S.C. is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. (CT) in a game that will be televised live on ESPNU.