Game Notes | Live Video | Live Stats

CHICAGO (January 17, 2019) - After opening Missouri Valley Conference action versus Indiana State just two weeks ago, Loyola closes out the season series versus the Sycamores Saturday afternoon in Terre Haute. At 4-1 in Valley action, the Ramblers are off to their best start in conference play, regardless of league affiliation, since 2001-02 in the Horizon League (6-0).

Loyola has emerged victorious in four of its last five and eight of its last 10 MVC road games. Overall, the Ramblers are an impressive 18-2 (.900) in their last 20 Valley games and have won 19 of their last 23 (.826) contests in league play.

Through games of January 15, Loyola ranked ninth in the nation in scoring defense (60.7 ppg), one season after ranking sixth (62.6 ppg). Over the last nine outings, the Ramblers are yielding only 55.4 ppg and are holding opponents to a meager 32.1 percent (61-for-190) accuracy rate from three-point territory.

Loyola – Indiana State – The Series

Loyola and Indiana State will meet for the 29th time in a series that dates back to 1924. The Ramblers have claimed six of the last eight meetings between the teams, but still trail the all-time series, 15-13. 

When the teams matched up just two weeks ago in Chicago (Jan. 2), Loyola shot 65.5 percent (19-for-29) from the field in the first period to build a 46-12 halftime edge before coasting to a 79-44 decision, its largest margin of victory in conference play since a 100-58 rout of Cleveland State February 17, 1996. Aher Uguak led the way two weeks ago with 19 points, while Cameron Krutwig added 16 points and 10 boards.

The Ramblers are 6-7 against the Sycamores since joining the Missouri Valley Conference and are 4-7 all-time versus Indiana State in Terre Haute, where they have dropped four of the last six games.

Nearly forty-one years ago to the day, Loyola picked up a 79-76 decision over then-13th-ranked Indiana State. With 18 points and 23 rebounds, Larry Knight powered the Ramblers to the upset victory, January 30, 1978, at Alumni Gym in Chicago, despite 28 points, 16 boards and six assists from Larry Bird.

Scouting Indiana State

The Sycamores are 2-4 in their last six outings and although they are 5-2 at Hulman Center this season, have stumbled in two of their last four games there.

Junior guard Jordan Barnes leads the Sycamores with 17.6 ppg, and pitches in 4.9 rpg and 3.5 apg, while sophomore guard Tyreke Key adds 15.5 ppg. Indiana State ranks second in The Valley in three-point field goal percentage (.378), but they knock down just 5.6 treys per contest. The duo of Barnes and Key is shooting a combined 43.9 percent (61-for-139) from long range.

Up Next

Loyola continues its short road trip when it heads to Missouri State January 23.