Boxscore (PDF) 

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (January 8, 2019)
 
In Short
Host Evansville (8-8, 2-1 MVC) shot 52.9 percent from the field and Loyola University Chicago's (9-7, 2-1 MVC) offense never was able to get on track as the Ramblers suffered a 67-48 setback at Ford Center tonight. The loss halts Loyola's modest two-game winning streak and prevents them from their first 3-0 start to conference play since 2001-02.
 
How It Happened
Six straight points from Cameron Krutwig erased an early 5-0 deficit and gave the Ramblers their first lead of the night, but Evansville countered with a 13-0 run of its own to open up a 16-6 advantage. Loyola got off to a slow start offensively, hitting just 3 of its first 13 shots from the field before a jumper from Marques Townes brought an end to the Purple Aces' 13-unanswered-points spurt.
 
Evansville's lead would grow to as many as 13 points in the first period and the Ramblers played the final nine minutes without Krutwig, who picked up his second foul of the game with 9:05 remaining in the half. Loyola also went six and a half minutes between field goals at one point, both buckets coming courtesy of Townes.
 
Loyola trailed 32-20 at the break, shooting just 33 percent (8-for-24) from the field, while seeing Evansville knock down 50 percent (12-for-24) of its attempts.
 
A 7-0 Purple Aces run to open the second half increased the Ramblers' deficit to 19 points (39-20), forcing Loyola to burn a timeout to slow the momentum. Minutes later a three-pointer from Bruno Skokna at the 12:50 mark, Loyola's first of the night, trimmed the deficit, to 43-27, but Evansville scored 10 of the game's next 14 points to bump its edge to 53-31 and seal the outcome.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Townes led the Ramblers with 14 points, while Krutwig chipped in 10.
• Franklin Agunanne provided a spark off the bench, tallying 13 points.
• Loyola shot just 37.3 percent (19-for-51) from the field.
• K.J. Riley led Evansville with 15 points.

 
Up Next
Loyola returns to Rogers Park to open a mini two-game homestand beginning with a January 12 showdown with Illinois State at 1 p.m. That contest is sold out, but the game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.