Jan. 15, 2010

Box Score

CHICAGO - Geoff McCammon scored a career-high 26 points to help Loyola University Chicago (12-5, 3-4 Horizon) snap a three-game losing streak with a 55-50 victory over city rival UIC (5-12, 1-6 Horizon) tonight at the UIC Pavilion. The win is the Ramblers' first over the Flames at the Pavilion since 2006.

"I don't know the last time this game wasn't close. It was a typical Loyola-UIC game," Loyola head coach Jim Whitesell said. "I'm thrilled with the win. To beat UIC is always incredibly hard."

McCammon scored 13 of his points in the opening half, while Ben Averkamp and Terrance Hill added six apiece, but the Ramblers still found themselves in a 21-16 hole in the opening period. Eight straight points by McCammon turned that five-point deficit into a 24-21 Rambler lead, but the host Flames closed out the half on a 9-4 run to take a 30-28 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

Loyola found the hot hand at the outset of the second half as McCammon buried back-to-back threes to put the Ramblers ahead by four. After UIC tied the game at 34-34, Marcus Thomas hit consecutive three-pointers on consecutive possessions as part of an 8-0 Loyola run that gave the Maroon ad Gold its largest lead of the night at 42-34.

Nearly five minutes later, back-to-back threes by Jeremy Buttell and Robo Kreps helped UIC draw even at 46-46, but a driving lay-up by Courtney Stanley put the Ramblers ahead for good at the 6:29 mark, and following a free throw by Hill, McCammon connected on his sixth and final three of the night to give Loyola a 52-46 lead.

UIC would get within three points (53-50) with 1:54 to play, but was unable to tie the game and McCammon sealed the outcome by calmly draining a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining.

Loyola's defense held UIC without a field goal for the final 8:41 of the contest and limited the Flames to 31 percent shooting from the field for the night.

McCammon, who hit 6 of 7 threes tonight, topped his previous career high of 22 points set against Canisius in November. Hill added seven points and seven rebounds, while Averkamp contributed six points, eight boards and five blocks. Stanley chipped in six points, three boards and seven assists for Loyola.

UIC was led by 20 points from Kreps.

Loyola returns home to face nationally ranked Butler at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21.