Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (January 23, 2019)
 
In Short
Host Missouri State (9-11, 3-4 MVC) shot a sizzling 63.4 percent (26-for-41) from the field, including 52.2 percent (12-for-23) from three-point range, and used a 24-4 run to open the second half and pull away for a 70-35 victory over Loyola University Chicago (12-8, 5-2 MVC) tonight at JQH Arena. The loss halts the Ramblers' three-game winning streak, which had matched its longest of the season, but despite the setback, Loyola remains tied atop the league standings.
 
How It Happened
Playing without injured guard Lucas Williamson, Loyola got off to a slow start, with Missouri State putting together a 14-4 run that turned a one-point Ramblers advantage into a 20-11 deficit. A basket from Cameron Krutwig stemmed the tide and kicked off a spurt of seven unanswered points, capped by a pair of free throws and then a three-pointer from Marques Townes, that brought the Ramblers within a bucket, at 20-18.
 
Missouri State responded with three consecutive threes, two from Keandre Cook, to bump its lead to 29-18, its largest of the period. A three from Clayton Custer, his first hoop of the night, snapped the Bears' run and opened up a 6-1 burst that cut the deficit to 30-24 at the half.
 
MSU shot 57.9 percent (11-for-19) from the field in the first period, knocking down 6-of-10 shots from beyond the arc, with Cook causing a good deal of the damage himself, with 11 points. Krutwig helped keep the Ramblers close with 11 points of his own, while Townes added eight.
 
The Bears continued their torrid perimeter shooting, opening the second-half scoring with back-to-back treys to increase their edge to 36-24 before a Townes layup broke the ice for Loyola three minute and 33 seconds into the period.
 
But after Townes' basket, Missouri State was able to stretch its lead to 26 (54-28) thanks to an 18-1 run, and Loyola was unable to recover.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Krutwig scored in double digits in a Missouri Valley Conference contest for the 19^th time in the last 20 outings, finishing with a team-high 15 points, while Townes added 12.
• Through the first 34 minutes of play, only four Ramblers attempted a field goal.
• Missouri State was led by 21 points from Cook.

 
Up Next
Sunday (Jan. 27) the Ramblers are back in action at a sold-out Gentile Arena when they host in-state rival Southern Illinois Sunday at 3 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.