Feb. 7, 2009

Box Score | Quotes

CHICAGO - Despite a balanced scoring attack that featured three players in double figures, Loyola University Chicago (12-13, 4-9 Horizon) fell to visiting Cleveland State (17-8, 8-5 Horizon), 83-70 this afternoon at the Gentile Center. The loss is the Ramblers' fourth in a row and spoils a season-high, 22-point performance from senior forward Leon Young.

The Ramblers started slow, missing their first 10 shots from the field, to fall behind 14-2 in the opening six minutes of the contest. Five straight points from Marcus Thomas righted the Loyola ship and ignited a 16-4 run that evened the score at 18. Cleveland State answered with an 8-0 run of its own, with Chris Moore accounting for four of the points, and the Vikings took a 32-27 lead into the half.

Loyola closed within four points on a pair of occasions early in the second period. The last coming when Young converted a lay-up to make the score 34-30. Cleveland State again countered with a run of its own, scoring the next 11 points of the game, and never looked back.

A resilient Rambler squad chipped away at the deficit and a pair of free throws from Walt Gibler at the 3:37 mark brought it within seven points, at 69-62. But, a lay-up by Norris Cole and a pair of free throws from D'Aundray Brown pushed the Vikings' lead back to double digits and Loyola would never get closer than nine points (75-66) the rest of the way.

Leon Young scored a season-high 22 points, just two shy of his career high, and added four rebounds, in his first start of the season. Justin Cerasoli chipped in 14 points, five boards, three assists and a pair of steals, and Marcus Thomas came off the bench to contribute 10 points for Loyola.

Cleveland State was paced by 17 points from J'Nathan Bullock, while also getting a career-best 16 points from George Tandy.

Loyola closes out a three-game home stand when it hosts Wright State on Tuesday, Feb. 10.