Boxscore (PDF)

CHICAGO (November 27, 2018)
 
In Short
Marques Townes scored a game-high 24 points and added nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, but it wasn't enough as fast-starting No. 5/6 Nevada (7-0) jumped out to a double-digit lead early and held on for a 79-65 victory over Loyola University Chicago (4-3) tonight in front of a sold-out crowd at Gentile Arena. Townes' 24 points are his most in a game since joining the Ramblers after transferring from Fairleigh Dickinson.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"Nevada was physically imposing defensively. They are play-making tough, have tough-shot making ability and made a lot of them tonight. They're really, really, good."
 
How It Happened
Nevada started the game on fire, hitting 11 of its first 15 shots as it stunned the Ramblers and built a 25-7 advantage. Caleb Martin knocked down 6 of his first 7 shots, including 3 of 4 from long distance, more than doubling Loyola's production (15 points) in that game-opening blow.
 
The Wolf Pack's lead would expand to 20 on a couple of occasions in the game's opening 20 minutes before Loyola was able to chip away at the deficit. A 10-2 run that was keyed by three-pointers from Townes and Cooper Kaifes cut the gap to 40-28 but Nevada scored the final four points of the period to go into intermission ahead, 44-28.
 
A hot-shooting Nevada squad wound up connecting on 63 percent (20-for-32) of its field goal tries in the first half, while Loyola struggled to find its rhythm, burying 39 percent (11-for-28) of its shots.
 
Townes opened the second-half scoring with a three from the left corner to slice Nevada's lead to 44-31 and following a Wolf Pack bucket, he knocked down another shot to get the deficit back to 13. But, five straight Nevada points pushed the advantage back to 18.
 
Loyola had one final push left in its tank and put together a 9-2 surge that was capped by a conventional three-point play from Townes that made it a 71-60 game with 2:23 remaining, but that was as close as the Ramblers would get.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Loyola's defense held fifth-ranked Nevada 13 points under its season average, but the Wolf Pack drained 58 percent of their shots for the evening.
• Three other Ramblers scored in double figures, with Kaifes and Cameron Krutwig chipping in 11 points apiece and Clayton Custer adding 10.
• Caleb Martin paced the Nevada offense with 21 points, while his twin brother, Cody, tossed in 20 points and dished out seven assists.

 
Up Next
Loyola looks to get back on track Saturday (Dec. 1) when it visits crosstown rival and former league mate UIC at 3 p.m.