Box Score | Postgame Comments

Springfield, Mo. - Freshman Ben Richardson scored seven of Loyola's last nine points and the Ramblers regrouped after Missouri State came all the way back from a 15-point, second-half deficit, earning a 53-50 win over the Bears tonight at JQH Arena in Springfield, Mo. Loyola improves to 14-9 (4-7 Valley) while Missouri State drops to 9-14 (3-8) with the loss.

Loyola's defense was terrific in the opening stages and steals and baskets from Montel James and Joe Crisman helped the Ramblers take an early 9-2 lead. The Bears slowly got into the game offensively and pulled within three (11-8) after a Camryn Boone three-point play. Devon Turk answered with a three-pointer and triples later from Turk and Richardson pushed the lead to double figures (25-15) for the first time with 2:38 left in the half. The teams essentially traded baskets the rest of the way, with Crisman collecting a loose ball and scoring in the final seconds to send LU to the locker room with a 31-19 halftime lead. The Rambler defense harassed the hosts into 33% shooting and 10 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes while the offense finished the period at 44% with Turk (9 points) and Peterson (7) leading the way.

The teams went back-and-forth in the early minutes of the second half, with Loyola opening its largest lead of the game (38-23) on a Peterson three-ball at the 15:08 mark. However, the visitors would go cold and Missouri State took advantage, rattling off seven straight points to cut the deficit to eight. Two Jay Knuth free throws only stemmed the tide momentarily as threes from Chris Kendrix and Gavin Thurman helped the Bears get within two (40-38) at the 9:23 mark.

The home team kept pushing and eventually took a 44-42 lead on another Thurman basket with 6:18 left. A driving reverse lay-up from Crisman snapped a 10:12 drought without a field goal and Richardson followed with a mid-range jumper and a three-pointer to put the Ramblers on top by five (49-44) with 2:15 left. Missouri State scored the next four points to get within a point but Peterson answered with a floater to make it a three-point game with 23 ticks left. Thurman scored with :09.1 remaining to cut LU's lead to one but the Ramblers beat the press for a Richardson lay-up and Dorrian Williams' long three-pointer at the buzzer came up short as the Ramblers claimed the road win.

Loyola shot just 35% in the second half to end up at 40% for the game while the Bears connected at a 52% clip after halftime to finish at 43% on the night. The Ramblers also committed a season-low five turnovers, helping them to a 14-3 advantage in points off turnovers.

Richardson finished 5-of-9 from the floor (2-4 3FGs) en route to his season-high 12 points. Peterson (12 points, three assists, zero turnovers) and James (10 points, six rebounds) joined him in double figures with Turk adding nine points, a balanced output from a team playing without its top two scorers.

Loyola returns to the Windy City for a Saturday afternoon game against Indiana State. Tip-off from Gentile Arena is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.