Box Score

Terre Haute, Ind. - Devonte Brown hit six of Indiana State's 12 three-pointers, finishing with a game-high 24 points as Loyola dropped a 72-61 decision to the Sycamores this afternoon in Terre Haute, Ind. Montel James scored a team-high 18 points to lead the Ramblers (13-7, 3-5 Valley) while the hosts improve to 10-10 (6-2) with the win.

James scored six of LU's first eight points as the Ramblers jumped out to an early lead but Brown and Justin Gant combined for three straight three-pointers in a 9-0 run that gave ISU a 14-8 lead after five minutes. The triples were the start of a bigger, 16-2 run that put the Ramblers in a 21-10 hole at the midway point of the half. Two more buckets from James cut the deficit to seven but three more treys bumped the lead up to 16 (30-14) at the 5:33 mark. Loyola hung tough and appeared to weather the storm, getting back within 10 on a Devon Turk basket in the final minute but Brown hit his fourth three-pointer of the half, a contested, step-back, 25-footer at the buzzer to make it a 38-25 game at halftime. James led the Ramblers with 12 points while Brown scored his 12 points on four three-pointers as the Sycamores hit 9-of-12 from distance in the half.

Loyola came out with renewed energy in the second half, using a Turk three-ball and a James basket to quickly cut the deficit to eight. The Ramblers closed to within seven (42-35) minutes after on a Turk bucket in the paint but Tre Bennett buried a three-pointer to get the lead back to double figures. Each time the Ramblers made a push, the Sycamores had an answer. Two Christian Thomas free throws made it a 59-50 game with 4:23 to play and Loyola forced a turnover on the ensuing possession but could not convert and Brown hit another big triple to make it a 64-50 game at the 2:58 mark. Loyola would get no closer than 11 the rest of the way.

The Ramblers finished the game at 45% overall from the floor but the Sycamores blazed the nets at a 53% clip overall, including 12-of-23 (52%) from downtown.

James led Loyola with 18 points (8-14 FGs) and added five rebounds. Thomas finished with eight points and seven boards while Peterson added eight off the bench.

Loyola returns to action on Wednesday night when it travels to Koch Arena to take on Wichita State. Tip-off from The Roundhouse is scheduled for 7 p.m.