Nov. 6, 2015
Box Score
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CHICAGO - Loyola built a 25-point, second-half led and withstood a late charge by Lewis to claim a 75-65 win in its lone exhibition game tonight at Gentile Arena. Junior Milton Doyle scored 16 of his game-high 21 points in the second half to lead the Ramblers.
After spotting Lewis the opening basket, Loyola scored the next 10 points, including five from Devon Turk, to move in front. The lead reached double figures for the first time (21-11) on a Ben Richardson basket at the 13:00 mark but the Flyers were able to hang around through the middle stages of the half. A Jared Ellis hoop pulled Lewis within nine (26-17) with eight minutes left before the Ramblers blew the game open. Five quick points from Montel James got Loyola going and consecutive baskets from Tyson Smith capped a 17-5 spurt that gave the hosts a 21-point lead (43-22) with just under two minutes to play. Two Donte Ingram free throws in the final minute sent the Ramblers to the locker room with a commanding 45-24 lead, as Loyola shot 52% from the floor in the period and knocked down all 11 of its free throws.
A three-point basket and a conventional three-point play from Turk bumped the lead to 25 (54-29) just over two minutes into the second half but Lewis would battle back, holding the Ramblers scoreless over the next 4:14 and scoring nine straight points to make it a 54-38 game at the 13:47 mark. Five straight points from Doyle pushed the lead back to 21 but the Flyers answered right back, rattling off the next 11 points to cut the deficit to 10 (59-49) just past the midway point of the half.
James scored inside and Doyle added another three-point play to stem the tide but Lewis made one last push, drawing within seven (66-59) on a Max Strus three-pointer. Doyle and Loyola's defense took over from there, with the junior guard scoring the next four points to get the lead back to double digits and the Ramblers held their visitors to just two field goals over the final 4:43, the second one coming in the final seconds, to come away with the victory.
Doyle went 6-of-12 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the foul line for his 21 points. He was joined in double figures by Turk (17) and James, who scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half. Ingram added eight points, all from the free throw line, and seven rebounds.
Loyola opens the 2015-16 season next Friday night (Nov. 13) against UT-San Antonio. Tip-off from Gentile Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.