Jan. 17, 2009

Box Score | Quotes

CHICAGO - Justin Cerasoli scored a career-best 28 points, 18 of which came in the first half, to lead Loyola University Chicago (11-8, 3-4 Horizon) to a 71-56 victory over Valparaiso (5-14, 2-6 Horizon) this afternoon at the Gentile Center. With the win, the Ramblers avenge a loss to No. 17 Butler on Thursday and improve their record to 9-4 in the last 13 contests.

Cerasoli was a one-man show early in the contest, scoring 16 of Loyola's first 18 points of the game as it opened up an 18-13 lead. A jumper by J.R. Blount with 3:52 left in the half capped a 6-0 Rambler run as the hosts opened up a 29-18 advantage, their largest of the period. Valpo countered with a run of its own just before the intermission, and closed out the half on an 8-1 streak to draw within four, at 30-26.

In the second half, Loyola saw a 13-point lead get sliced to five (54-49). However the hosts regained composure when Ross Forman ignited a 12-2 run with a layup, and four minutes later, the Ramblers held a commanding 66-51 lead with just under two minutes remaining in the contest.

Loyola, which improved to 5-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points, owned a 42-23 edge on the boards against Valparaiso, which dressed only six scholarship players. In addition to his career-best, 28-point effort, Cerasoli chipped in four rebounds, four assists and five steals, while hitting 11 of 19 shots from the field. Blount added 15 points for Loyola, which also got a personal-best 11 rebounds from Munster, Ind., native Aric Van Weelden. Freshman Walt Gibler added nine points and seven rebounds.

Valparaiso was led by 16 points from Michael Rogers.

The Ramblers play their next four games away from home, beginning with a Jan. 22 match-up at Wright State.