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CHICAGO (January 1, 2018) - Loyola looks to continue its winning ways at Gentile Arena when it hosts Indiana State in its first game of 2018 Wednesday evening. The Ramblers have won nine straight and 13 of their last 15 outings at home. A victory over Indiana State would give the Ramblers just their second 2-1 start to Missouri Valley Conference play since joining the league for the 2013-14 season, and their first since 2014-15, when they sandwiched victories over Bradley and Evansville around a setback at UNI.
 
Series Stuff
Loyola and Indiana State are meeting for the 26th time in a series that traces its roots to 1924. The Sycamores hold a 14-11 edge in the all-time series, but the Ramblers have captured four of the last five meetings and swept the season series a year ago. When the teams last met, Loyola limited Indiana State to 34.7 percent (17-for-49) shooting en route to a 64-46 victory at Gentile Arena on February 15, 2017. Aundre Jackson scored 18 points off the bench to pace the Rambler attack.
 
Loyola is 6-5 all-time against Indiana State in Chicago and has won the last two at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers are 2-2 versus the Sycamores in Rogers Park since joining The Valley in 2013-14. Loyola is 4-6 against Indiana State since joining the MVC.
 
Thirty years ago, the Ramblers picked up their biggest win over Indiana State, earning a 79-76 decision over the 13th ranked Sycamores on January 30, 1978 at Alumni Gym in Chicago despite 28 points, 16 rebounds and six assists from Larry Bird.
 
Scouting Indiana State
Indiana State has dropped three of its last four games, although its last two setbacks have come by a combined eight points. Three of the Sycamores' eight losses have come in overtime, by a combined eight points. The Sycamores opened the 2017-18 campaign in stellar fashion, rolling Indiana, 90-69, in Bloomington, but are 1-3 in true road games and 1-6 away from home overall this year.
 
Guard Jordan Barnes is one of three ISU players scoring in double figures with a team-best 17.1 points per game. The sophomore, who is one of only two players to have started all 14 games, is shooting 48.7 percent (55-for-113) from three-point range. Senior guard Brenton Scott, a Preseason First Team All-MVC pick, adds 14.0 ppg and a team-high 5.6 rpg.

Indiana State is coming off a heartbreaking 84-81 overtime loss at Illinois State, in which the Redbirds connected for 11 three-pointers.
 
Up Next
Loyola visits UNI on January 7 at 3 p.m. in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPNU.