Boxscore (PDF)

CHICAGO (November 16, 2018)
 
In Short
Hot-shooting Loyola University Chicago (3-1) knocked down 57.8 percent of its field goal attempts and rattled off 14 unanswered points midway through the second half to pull away for an 80-64 victory over Grambling State (1-2) tonight at Gentile Arena in an on-campus game as part of the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The win gives the Ramblers a 3-1 or better start to a season for the fifth straight year.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"Lucas Williamson continues to be an important piece for us and had nine rebounds, six assists and played unbelievable defense. He reminds me a lot of Ben Richardson. (Cameron) Krutwig was really good again and I thought Clayton (Custer) played a really solid game. Marques (Townes) started slow but was really good the last five minutes of the first half and then into the second half."
 
How It Happened
Neither team led by more than six points for the majority of the first period until Cameron Krutwig touched off a stretch of nine unanswered points with a layup and Clayton Custer punctuated the run with a three-pointer to give Loyola a 34-25 advantage. Loyola's lead would grow to as many as 11 points on a pair of occasions in the first half, the last coming on a bucket by Custer with three seconds remaining.
 
Custer and Krutwig combined for 26 of Loyola's 40 points in the opening period as the Ramblers connected on 58.3 percent (14-for-24) of their field goal tries.
 
A three-pointer from Aher Uguak opened the second-half scoring and another hoop from Krutwig at the outset of the period bumped Loyola's lead to 45-29, its largest of the night to that point. Grambling stormed right back however, putting together a 12-2 run that chopped the gap to 47-41, but Loyola countered that punch with a 14-0 run of its own, highlighted by threes from Marques Townes, Custer and Cooper Kaifes to push the advantage to 61-41 and put the game out of reach.
 
Loyola would lead by as many as 27 points in rolling to its third win in four tries to open the 2018-19 season.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Krutwig's perfect season from the field came to an end, but he still knocked down 8-of-10 shots, finishing with a team high of 19 points, to go with seven rebounds.
• Custer and Townes provided 17 and 16 points each, respectively, while Kaifes added 10 points.
• Lucas Williamson hauled in nine rebounds, dished out six assists and tossed in three points.
• Dallas Polk-Hilliard led Grambling with 13 points.

 
Up Next
Loyola takes to the road for the first time this season when it heads to Florida for more action in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Ramblers face Richmond Monday (Nov. 19) at 5:30 p.m. CT in a game that will be televised live on FS1.