Nov. 27, 2010

Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO - Terrance Hill hit a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left to give Loyola University Chicago (7-0) a one-point lead and the Ramblers survived two game-winning shot attempts by San Francisco (2-3) to record a thrilling 63-62 victory over the host Dons this afternoon at War Memorial Gym. The win moves Loyola to 7-0 for the first time since 1962-63 and the victory is seventh-year head coach Jim Whitesell's 100th as the Ramblers' bench boss.

"This was a hard-fought win. Geoff McCammon had the hot hand and kind of kept us in it all by himself for awhile there," Whitesell said. "And Terrance (Hill) stepped up and hit some big free throws at the end. This is a great win for our kids."

For the first time this season, Loyola got off to a slow start and trailed for the entire opening 20 minutes. Entering the game, the Ramblers had connected on 48 percent of their tries from the field, and 45 percent from three-point range, but converted only 22 percent (7-for-32) from the field and 21 percent (3-for-14) from three-point land in the first half.

Geoff McCammon provided a huge lift off the bench, accounting for 11 of the Ramblers' 21 points in the opening half, but Loyola's offense couldn't get on track despite forcing 15 Dons turnovers.

Loyola slowly chipped away at a 13-point deficit in the second half and a pair of free throws by Ben Averkamp at the 4:18 mark gave the Ramblers a 55-54 lead, their first of the contest. The teams would exchange leads over the final four minutes. And Courtney Stanley's free throws with 1:46 left gave Loyola a 61-60 lead.

Cody Doolin sank a pair of foul shots with 1:31 left to put the Dons back on top, 62-61. Loyola had the ball with one last crack at winning the game, and following a McCammon miss on a three-pointer, Hill was fouled going for a loose ball and calmly stepped to the line and buried two free throws for a 63-62 Loyola advantage.

Doolin missed a jumper and Rashad Green also missed a desperation heave from the corner as time expired.

McCammon equaled a career high with 26 points, as he hit 8-of-13 shots from three-point territory. Walt Gibler added 10 points and nine boards for Loyola, which shot a season-low 31 percent from the field. Michael Williams scored 16 points to lead San Francisco.

Loyola opens up Horizon League play on Dec. 1, when it hosts Butler.