Boxscore (PDF)

CHICAGO (January 27, 2019)
 
In Short
Cameron Krutwig scored a career-high 22 points and Loyola University Chicago (13-8, 6-2 MVC) led by as many as 31 points on the way to a convincing 75-50 victory over Southern Illinois (10-11, 3-5 MVC) this afternoon at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers put the game out of reach in the first half thanks to a 29-2 run that featured 23 consecutive points, as they collected their 11^thstraight home win in Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
How It Happened
Both teams got off to a bit of a slow start as defense ruled the first few minutes. After a Sean Lloyd jumper, Marcus Bartley knocked down a three-pointer to put Southern Illinois on top, 12-7. Loyola struggled from the field, hitting only 1 of its first 6 shots, but would finish the period with a flourish, outscoring the Salukis, 35-7 the rest of the way to grab a 42-19 halftime edge.
 
An old-fashioned three-point play courtesy of Aher Uguak opened a barrage of 23 unanswered points that featured six points from Krutwig and was capped by a Bruno Skokna bucket that put the Ramblers ahead, 30-12. 
 
Loyola buried 14 of its final 20 attempts from the field in the opening period to finish the half at 57.7 percent (15-for-26) and its defense forced 11 turnovers, while limiting the Salukis to 7 of 20 from the field. Krutwig scored 12 of his 22 points in the first half alone as Loyola out-scored Southern Illinois, 24-0 in the paint.
 
Southern Illinois worked its way back within 17 points on a handful of occasions, the last coming at 54-37, but Loyola responded with a 13-1 run to extend its advantage to 67-38 and it was able to coast from there. 
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Loyola shot 59.6 percent (28-for-47) from the field as a team, hitting 6 of 12 attempts from three-point territory.
• In addition to Krutwig's career-high 22 points, the sophomore center also contributed six rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal.
• Townes pitched in 14 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Clayton Custer added 10 points. 
• Uguak poured in nine points and Christian Negron provided a spark off the bench with a career-best nine points and five boards.
• Southern Illinois, which committed 19 turnovers, got 12 points from Armon Fletcher.

 
Up Next
Loyola is back in action January 30 when it hosts UNI at 6 p.m. That game will be televised live on NBC Sports Chicago.