Box Score

Anchorage, Alaska - UNC Asheville used a 17-0, second-half run to take control and never looked back, knocking off Loyola, 59-48, in the third-place game of the GCI Great Alaska Shootout tonight in Anchorage, Alaska. The Ramblers slip to 4-3 with the loss while the Bulldogs improve to 3-4 with the victory.

Both teams started out well offensively as the Ramblers took an 11-8 lead into the first media timeout. Four different Ramblers scored in the opening five minutes and two Earl Peterson baskets keyed an 8-0 run that gave Loyola a 19-10 lead at the 8:28 mark. Asheville started to chip away at the lead but the Ramblers had an answer each time. A mid-range jumper from Peterson kept the margin at seven and Milton Doyle closed the half with a tough jumper to send the Ramblers to the locker room with a 28-22 lead. Loyola shot 50% (12 of 24) in the period and its defense forced the Bulldogs into 13 first-half turnovers.

Both teams got off to slow starts in the second half, with turnovers playing a big part in it for both teams. Devon Turk hit Tyson Smith for a transition basket to keep the Loyola lead at five and the Ramblers enjoyed a 37-32 lead after Turk buried a long three-pointer at the shot clock buzzer at the 11:54 mark. However, baskets became hard to come by and Asheville took advantage, rattling off 17 unanswered points to take a 49-37 lead with 4:48 on the clock.

Donte Ingram stopped the run with a pair of free throws but the field goal drought reached 9:42 before Ben Richardson connected from downtown to make it a 53-42 game at the 2:12 mark. Loyola drew as close as eight after a Doyle three-pointer but it would get no closer as Asheville wrapped up third place in the tournament.

After the strong shooting first half, Loyola shot 6-of-23 (26%) in the second half to finish at 38% for the game.

Doyle and Montel James posted identical stat lines of nine points and six rebounds to lead the Ramblers, with James adding three blocked shots. Peterson added eight points, five assists and three steals while Turk finished with seven points.

Loyola returns home to Chicago and has a week off before hosting Creighton next Saturday afternoon. Tip-off from Gentile Arena is set for 1 p.m.