Dec. 17, 2011
Box Score
Post-Game Press Conference Video
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CHICAGO - Ben Averkamp and Walt Gibler each recorded a double-double as Loyola University Chicago (3-7) won its second game in a row with a 64-49 victory over Chicago State (0-11) at Gentile Arena this afternoon. This marks the first time since March 2, 2010 that two or more Ramblers registered a double-double in the same contest.
"Chicago State has played a brutal schedule and this was a game that worried me," Loyola Head Coach Porter Moser said. "I was really pleased with our rebounding. We did a really good job on the glass today."
The first half was a seesaw affair that featured five ties before Loyola closed the period with a 7-2 run to take a 31-26 lead into the locker room. Averkamp scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the opening 20 minutes to help the Ramblers take the lead at the break. Loyola dominated inside and shot 15 free throws in the first half, knocking down 12, while Chicago State did not attempt a foul shot in the opening stanza.
Loyola was clinging to a 37-32 lead with 15:30 remaining in the contest when Christian Thomas threw down a dunk to spark a 20-6 run that helped the Ramblers seize control of the contest and open up a 57-38 advantage with 8:34 left to play. Chicago State would get no closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
Averkamp, who was coming off of a career-best 31-point performance at Toledo last Saturday, tallied 21 points, the second-highest total of his career, and added 10 rebounds for his third career double-double. Meanwhile Gibler, who was back in the lineup after missing the Toledo game with an injury, notched his first double-double since March 2, 2010, and just the second of his career, with 16 points and a career-high-tying 10 boards.
Denzel Brito chipped in 10 points, and Chim Kadima (9 points) and Christian Thomas (8 points and 8 rebounds) were also key contributors as the Ramblers improved to 2-1 at Gentile Arena this season.
Lee Fisher scored a team-high 11 points to pace Chicago State.
Loyola is back in action Monday (Dec. 19) when it hosts Rockhurst at 7 p.m.
