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CHICAGO (January 9, 2018) - Fresh off a victory at UNI on Sunday, Loyola aims to win consecutive Missouri Valley Conference road games for the first time since February 2016 when it visits Illinois State Wednesday evening.
 
Series Stuff
This is the 19th meeting between Loyola and Illinois State and the Redbirds hold a 14-4 advantage in the all-time series. ISU has won six straight and 10 of the last 11 from the Ramblers, although five of the last six contests between the teams have been decided by nine points or less.
 
When the squads last met, Loyola's upset bid fell just short as Ben Richardson's three-pointer from just inside half court rimmed out in a 65-63 loss at Redbird Arena on February 19, 2017. Aundre Jackson and Milton Doyle tallied 17 points each to pace the Ramblers.
 
Loyola is just 1-8 all-time in Normal, picking up its lone win over the Redbirds there on January 21, 1991, with a 73-69 decision in overtime. The Ramblers have dropped six straight to ISU at Redbird Arena and are 1-7 against Illinois State since joining the MVC for the 2013-14 campaign.
 
Scouting Illinois State
Illinois State has won five of its last six outings and is coming off of a 72-68 victory over preseason league favorite Missouri State. The Redbirds' five wins in that stretch have come by a combined total of 18 points.
 
At Redbird Arena this season, Illinois State is 5-2 overall, but has won both of its Valley games, with victories over Indiana State and Missouri State. The three-headed monster of MIlik Yarbrough (17.9 ppg), Keyshawn Evans (17.4 ppg) and Phil Fayne (16.7) is accounting for 66 percent of the Redbirds' scoring this season.
 
ISU ranks second in The Valley in scoring offense with 74.2 ppg, but sits last in the circuit in scoring defense (76.1). On Sunday, the Redbirds received 23 points apiece from Yarbrough and Fayne to hand Missouri State its first MVC loss of the year. The Redbirds committed just six turnovers and shot 80 percent (20-for-25) from the foul line.
 
Up Next
Loyola returns home on Saturday, Jan. 13, when it hosts Bradley at 3 p.m.