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CHICAGO (January 19, 2018) - Loyola brings a four-game winning streak into Sunday's game at Valparaiso. The Ramblers' current four-game Missouri Valley Conference winning streak is their longest in conference play since winning six straight contests during the 2006-07 campaign when they were members of the Horizon League. At 15-4 overall, the Ramblers have their best record through 19 games since the 1965-66 squad won 17 of its first 19 contests en route to a 22-3 season that ended with a NCAA Tournament berth.
 
Series Stuff
Loyola and Valparaiso are meeting for the 50th time in a series that dates all the way back to 1922. The Ramblers hold a 34-15 edge in the all-time series, although the Crusaders have captured seven of the last nine matchups. This is the first meeting between the teams since February 19, 2013, when both were members of the Horizon League. Valpo emerged with an 85-76 victory at Gentile Arena that night despite 15 points from Loyola's Christian Thomas.
 
The Ramblers are 17-6 all-time against the Crusaders in Valparaiso and have won two of the last three at the ARC, including a 63-54 decision there on January 2, 2013. In that game, Ben Averkamp tossed in a game-high 16 points to lead Loyola, which also received 14 points from Christian Thomas. As head coach at Loyola, Porter Moser is 1-3 against Valpo.
 
Scouting Valparaiso
After opening the season with eight straight wins, Valparaiso, which is in its first season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, has fallen on hard times, dropping nine of its last 12 contests, including each of the last two. The Crusaders are 7-1 at the Athletics-Recreation Center this season and are 2-1 at home in Valley play, with the lone setback coming at the hands of preseason league favorite Missouri State, 67-50. High-scoring senior guard Tevonn Walker leads Valpo with 15.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while guard Bakari Evelyn adds 10.7 ppg and 2.9 apg.
 
Valpo assistant coach Emanuel Dildy was an assistant on Porter Moser's staff at Loyola for three seasons, from 2013-16. Markus Golder scored 12 points, but Valpo couldn't make a five-point halftime lead hold up in a 64-57 loss at Missouri State Wednesday night.
 
Up Next
Loyola continues its road trip on January 24 when it visits Drake.