Feb. 19, 2013
Box Score | Postgame Comments
CHICAGO - A spirited second-half rally helped Loyola University Chicago (14-13, 4-10 Horizon) erase what was a 17-point deficit in the first half to tie the game at 51, but the Ramblers were unable to push past Horizon League leader Valparaiso (21-7, 11-3 Horizon) as they fell to the Crusaders, 85-76, tonight at Gentile Arena.
"Give Valpo credit. They punched us in the face right off the bat, but I am proud of the character of our guys," Loyola head coach Porter Moser said. "We knew we didn't play well in the first half. It takes a lot to battle back and tie it against a team like that. But, Valpo found solutions, which is what good teams do. We have to build off the second half and learn from it."
Loyola got off to a sluggish start and consecutive three-pointers by Ryan Broekhoff and Will Bogan forced Loyola to burn an early timeout as the Crusaders grabbed a 10-4 lead. Jeff White's three-pointer with 6:53 left in the period got the Ramblers within 29-21, but Valpo went on to score the next nine points to open up a 38-21 advantage.
The Crusaders shot a blistering 62 percent (18 for 29) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, while the Ramblers couldn't get much to fall, hitting just 10 of 28 (36 percent) attempts from the field, and trailed 42-27 at the break.
Back-to-back threes by Jordan Hicks to open the second half energized the Ramblers and prompted Valpo coach Bryce Drew to use a timeout just 1:16 into the period. Those threes by Hicks were part of 19-4 run that was capped by Christian Thomas' layup, which tied the game at 46.
After the teams traded three-point plays, and Valpo's Kevin Van Wijk converted a layup, a thunderous dunk by Nick Osborne knotted the score for the final time of the night (51-51). LaVonte Dority answered with a three-pointer and after a basket by Hicks made it 54-53, Valpo broke off a 15-4 run that featured a pair of threes from Matt Kenney and another from Erik Buggs, as the Crusaders claimed a 69-57 edge.
Loyola would get no closer than eight points the rest of the way, however, as Valpo, which starts five seniors, claimed at least a share of the Horizon League regular-season crown.
Four Ramblers scored in double digits for a youthful Rambler squad that once again played without the services of injured starters Ben Averkamp and Cully Payne. Thomas overcame a rough first half to notch all of his team-high 15 points in the second period to run his streak of consecutive games in double-figure scoring to 12, and he also pitched in eight rebounds and four assists.
Hicks reached double digits for the third straight outing by tallying 13 points and eight boards, while both Devon Turk and White chipped in 12 points apiece for the Ramblers, who committed only nine turnovers.
Valpo, which shot 55 percent from the field for the game, received a team-best 16 points from Bogan.
Loyola steps out of Horizon League play one last time when it hosts Kent State on Saturday, February 23, on Ramada BracketBuster weekend. The Ramblers are undefeated (5-0) at home in non-conference games this season.
