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CHICAGO (January 25, 2018) - Riding a six-game winning streak, first-place Loyola returns home, where it is 9-1 this season, to host UNI Sunday afternoon. The Ramblers' six-game winning streak is their longest in conference play since a six-game run during the 2006-07 season. Loyola hasn't won seven straight league games since a 12-game streak in 1984-85. Loyola's 7-2 start in The Valley is its best mark through nine games in conference play since going 7-2 to open Midwestern Collegiate Conference action in 1986-87. The Ramblers are 13 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 1984-85 season when they reached the NCAA Sweet 16 and finished 27-6 overall. Loyola's last four wins have come by an average margin of 17.3 points. Loyola won just three games in MVC play by 17 or more points in the previous four seasons.
Series Stuff
This is the 17th meeting between Loyola and UNI in a series that dates back to 1994. The Panthers hold a 10-6 edge in the all-time series, but the Ramblers have captured four of the last five matchups. When the teams met three weeks ago in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Loyola closed out the game by scoring 11 of the final 13 points to earn a 56-50 victory in a defensive struggle.
Clayton Custer netted a team-best 11 points to lead the Ramblers in his first game back from an ankle injury.
Loyola is 4-3 against UNI when playing in Chicago and has won three of the last four at Gentile Arena. In the last encounter between the teams in the Windy City,
Donte Ingram erupted for 25 points and 10 rebounds to power the Ramblers to a 77-66 victory on January 4, 2017. Three of the last four meetings between the teams have been decided by six points or less, including two by three points. Since joining the Missouri Valley for the 2013-14 season, Loyola is 5-5 versus UNI. UNI's last win over the Ramblers in Chicago came in the form of a 58-39 decision on February 18, 2015.
Scouting UNI
UNI suffered through a seven-game losing skid, but since that dry spell, has won three of its last four contests. The Panthers are 2-7 away from the McLeod Center this season and winless in five true road games, four of which have come in Valley play. Head coach Ben Jacobson's squad is tied with Bradley for The Valley lead in scoring defense, allowing only 62.2 ppg.
Senior forward Bennett Koch leads the Panthers with 12.7 ppg and adds 6.0 rpg, while shooting 54.9 percent from the field, while Tywhon Pickford is one of the top freshmen in The Valley, contributing 10.6 ppg and 8.6 rpg. He ranks second in The Valley in rebounding.
Up Next
Loyola shoots for its fifth straight road win when it visits Bradley on January 31. The game will be televised live on NBC Sports Chicago at 7 p.m.
