Boxscore (PDF)

CHICAGO (December 1, 2018)
 
In Short
Four players scored in double digits and Loyola University Chicago (5-3) shot 57 percent from the field and held off a late charge from host UIC (3-5) to secure a 73-64 victory this afternoon at Credit Union 1 Arena. The win is the Ramblers' sixth straight over their city rival and snaps a brief two-game slide overall.
 
How It Happened
After getting off to sluggish starts the last few games, Loyola came out of the gates on fire, hitting 11 of its first 19 shots in opening up a 24-9 lead. Clayton Custer, Cooper Kaifes and Cameron Krutwig accounted for two-thirds of the Ramblers' scoring in that initial outburst, scoring six points apiece.
 
UIC was able to trim Loyola's lead down to seven points on a handful of occasions, but the Ramblers, who were playing their first true road game of the season, had an answer each time, and Custer's lay-up with three seconds left in the period sent the visitors into the break with a 37-28 lead. 
 
Loyola converted 58.6 percent (17-for-29) of its field goal attempts in the opening 20 minutes, while holding the Flames to an icy 8 percent (1-for-12) from three-point range. 
 
Another fast start in the second period allowed Loyola to build its largest lead of the game, at 47-28. A 10-0 run to start the period included six points from Marques Townes, but UIC answered that punch with an 11-2 run of its own to whittle the Ramblers' advantage down to 49-39.
 
Loyola was clinging to a 10-point lead with a little over seven minutes remaining when Bruno Skokna hit a three-pointer to touch off an 8-2 burst that was capped with another bucket from Skokna, expanding the Ramblers' advantage to 66-50. 
 
Although the Ramblers appeared in control, leading 69-54 with 1:27 left to play, UIC made things very interesting in the final 87 seconds. Marcus Ottey's basket with 22 seconds remaining trimmed Loyola's lead to 71-64, but Townes drained a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left to seal the outcome. 
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Townes was one of three Ramblers to pour in 16 points, also contributing six assists and five rebounds to his stat line. He scored 14 of those 16 points in the second half.
• Custer also produced 16 points, adding a season-high six boards and five assists, while Krutwig went for 16 points, seven boards, three assists and three blocks.
• Kaifes, who made his first career start, delivered 12 points, knocking down a trio of three-pointers.
• Isaiah Bujdoso, who also was making his first start in a Ramblers uniform, tossed in four points.
• Loyola held UIC to just 5-of-23 (.217) shooting from three-point territory on the day.
• Loyola has won 10 of its last 12 games versus Horizon League foes.
• Ottey paced UIC with 20 points

 
Up Next
The Ramblers return to Gentile Arena Wednesday night (Dec. 5) when they host Ball State at 8 p.m.