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CHICAGO (February 5, 2018) - Loyola, which has won eight of its last nine games, hosts Drake Wednesday night looking to record its second 20-win season in the last four years. The Ramblers have not won 20 games before the start of conference tournament action since going 20-10 during regular-season play in 2006-07.  The Ramblers have defended their home court well this season, winning 11 of 12 contests at Gentile Arena, and dating back to last year, have won 13 of their last 14 at The Joe. Loyola's nine Valley wins are its most since joining the league and most in conference play since 2006-07 (10 in Horizon). Loyola has won 10 or more games in league play just four times - 1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85, 2006-07.
 
Series Stuff
This will be the 29th meeting between Loyola and Drake and the Ramblers own a 16-12 edge in the all-time series, which began in 1934. Loyola has won five of the last seven contests from the Bulldogs. When the teams met two weeks ago in Des Moines, the Ramblers closed the game on a 29-6 run to roll to an 80-59 victory. Loyola shot 56.7 percent (34-for-60) from the field and was led by Marques Townes' 17 points.
 
The Ramblers have won five straight against the Bulldogs in the Windy City and are 10-4 when playing on their home floor. In last year's meeting at Gentile Arena, Milton Doyle, Aundre Jackson and Ben Richardson tallied 16 points apiece to power Loyola to an 80-65 victory. Drake's last win in Chicago came on December 2, 1995 (70-62). In the last three matchups between the teams, the Ramblers are putting up 86.0 ppg and shooting 52.8 percent (103-for-195) from the field. Since joining the Missouri Valley Conference for the 2013-14 season, Loyola is 6-3 versus Drake.
 
Scouting Drake
Drake halted a three-game slide with a 78-68 victory at Bradley on February 3, the first home loss of the year for the Braves. The Bulldogs are 3-5 since a five-game winning streak, December 22 - January 6. Although it is just 3-8 on the road this season, Drake is 3-3 away from home in Valley play this season, with wins at Southern Illinois, Indiana State and Bradley to its credit. However, the Bulldogs have dropped three of their last four road contests.
 
Senior guard Reed Timmer recently became Drake's all-time leading scorer and ranks second in the MVC with 18.6 ppg, while adding 3.4 rpg and 2.6 apg. He is connecting on 44.2 percent (68-for-154) of his three-point attempts and is coming off a 32-point performance at Bradley on Saturday. Three other Bulldogs are scoring in double figures - Nick McGlynn (11.4), De'Antae McMurray (10.7) and Graham Woodward (10.0). Drake leads the Valley in scoring offense with 74.5 ppg. 
 
Up Next
Loyola travels to Terre Haute, Indiana to battle Indiana State on Saturday (Feb. 10) at 1 p.n. Central.