Box Score | Highlights

CHICAGO - Visiting Cleveland State used a late 7-1 spurt to break a 47-all tie and earn a 60-54 win over Loyola tonight at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers slip back to .500 (5-5) with their first home loss of the season while Cleveland State improves to 3-7 with the win.

In a game in which neither offense could get into a flow, Loyola used a 10-4 run to take an 18-11 lead just over nine minutes into the game. Maurice Kirby scored the first five points of the run and Ben Richardson capped it with a three-pointer as Loyola looked to take control. Daniel Levitt answered with a three-pointer and the Ramblers struggled to find the range, tallying only two Earl Peterson free throws over a 10:34 span, as Cleveland State pulled within a point, 20-19. Peterson scored in transition to break the drought and Loyola took a 24-23 lead into the locker room at halftime, as the teams combined for 17 turnovers and 15 made baskets in the opening 20 minutes. The Ramblers' defense was stout, forcing eight miscues and limiting CSU to just 30% (7 of 23) from the floor.

Five points from Andre Yates helped Cleveland State move in front early in the second half but another Richardson three-pointer and baskets from Devon Turk and Milton Doyle accouned for all the points in a 7-0 run that gave LU a 35-31 lead at the 10:58 mark. Cleveland State answered with the next six to regain the lead and the teams traded buckets until a Donte Ingram hoop gave Loyola the lead back, 42-41, with 6:41 to go.

A loose ball ended up in the hands of Tim Hasbargen and his three-pointer gave the Vikings the lead back and Levitt followed with a trey of his own to make it a five-point margin. A Julius Rajala tip-in and a Doyle three-point play quickly forged a 47-all deadlock but two CSU free throws and a long three-pointer by Levitt at the end of the shot clock restored the visitors' five-point lead and the Ramblers would get no closer than four points the rest of the way.

Loyola finished the game shooting 41% and held Cleveland State to just 34.5% accuracy, marking only the fourth time in 30 such games since the start of the 2014-15 season that the Ramblers lost when shooting a higher percentage than their opponent.

Peterson was Loyola's most consistent source of offense, scoring 12 of his game-high 16 points in the second half to lead the way. Doyle and Richardson added nine points apiece.

Loyola resumes its three-game, pre-Christmas homestand on Saturday when it entertains UIC at Gentile Arena. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.