Nov. 6, 2010

Box Score

Loyola vs. Robert Morris Box Score (pdf)

CHICAGO - Thanks to a fast start and four players scoring in double figures, Loyola University Chicago rolled to an 88-71 victory over Robert Morris (Ill.) in an exhibition contest tonight in historic Alumni Gym. Senior guard Geoff McCammon led the way for the Ramblers with a team-high 19 points.

"We got off to a good start which was good to see," Loyola head coach Jim Whitesell said. "There were a lot of positives but we still have a lot to work on. We were not as poised in the second half and Robert Morris attacked us."

Junior forward Walt Gibler, the 2010 Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year, scored seven points in Loyola's game-opening 13-4 run. The Ramblers hit five of their first six shots from the field to open the contest. A pair of free throws by Reggie Bunch at the 15:44 mark brought the Eagles within seven points (15-8), but a jumper by Courtney Stanley ignited a 28-5 Loyola run that stretched the lead to 43-13 with just under five minutes remaining in the half.

Loyola connected on 18-of-37 shots from the field and took great care of the basketball, committing only three turnovers in the opening stanza, while limiting to Robert Morris to 36 percent (10-for-28) shooting and forcing nine Eagles turnovers.

Robert Morris spread the floor in the second half and was able to slice into a 20-point Loyola halftime lead, but after a three-pointer by Diante Watkins brought RMU within 16 points, at 52-36, Roy Beard was whistled for a personal foul and a technical foul. The Ramblers scored the next five points of the game to regain momentum and extend the lead back over 20 points and they would let the Eagles get no closer than 14 points (76-62) the rest of the way.

In addition to McCammon's team-high 19 points, Loyola also received 18 points and nine rebounds from Gibler and 16 points, eight boards and three blocks from Ben Averkamp. Terrance Hill came off the bench to drop in 11 points, while Stanley contributed four points, three boards, eight assists and three steals.

Reggie Bunch scored a game-high 20 points to lead Robert Morris, which also received 14 points from Watkins.

Loyola officially opens the 2010-11 season next weekend when it hosts the four-team Nick Kladis Classic, Nov. 12-14, at the Gentile Center. Loyola will face Eastern Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12. Indiana State meets Texas-Pan American in the first game of the round-robin event at 5 p.m. that same day.