CHICAGO (December 1, 2019) - Loyola aims for its second straight victory when it pays a visit to Mid-American Conference rival Ball State Tuesday night. The Ramblers, who have led by nine or more points in three of their four losses, are coming off a 68-61 victory versus Old Dominion at the Cayman Islands Classic.
Junior Cameron Krutwig, who matched a career high with 24 points versus Saint Joseph's November 16, netted his 1,000th career point in last Monday's game versus South Florida at the Cayman Islands Classic. He is the 44th player in Loyola history to score 1,000 points and is one of only 23 Ramblers to rack up 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds. Krutwig has converted 20 straight attempts from the foul line and is shooting 87.9 percent (29-for-33) from the charity stripe this season. A year ago, he buried only 57.8 percent (78-for-135) of his free tosses.
Tate Hall, who has scored in double digits in five of the last six games, is tallying 21.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.0 apg and 1.0 spg, converting 52 percent (13-for-25) of his field goal tries and 50 percent (6-for-12) of his triple attempts, in the last two outings. He has topped the 20-point plateau in each of Loyola's last two contests.
Loyola – Ball State – The Series
Loyola and Ball State are meeting for the second time in a series that just began in 2018. When the teams matched up last December at Gentile Arena, Cameron Krutwig notched 19 points and eight rebounds and Marques Townes added 14 points, 10 boards and six assists, but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals got 22 points from K.J. Walton and shot 57.1 percent (28-for-49) from the field in a 75-69 victory.
The Ramblers are 127-125 (.504) all-time versus current members of the Mid-American Conference.
Scouting Ball State
After opening the season by winning three of its first four contests, Ball State has stumbled in two of its last three outings and is coming off a 69-62 loss to Western Illinois November 26. Ball State has already faced two Missouri Valley teams, falling at Evansville (79-75) and defeating Indiana State (69-55). At Worthen Arena this season, the Cardinals are 2-2.
As a team, Ball State allows only 60.3 ppg and is limiting foes to 38.6 percent (154-for-399) from the field and 30.8 percent (41-for-133) from beyond the arc.
Redshirt senior forward Tahjai Teague leads Ball State in both scoring (15.0) and rebounding (8.6) Three other Cardinals average 10 or more points, including senior forward Kyle Mallers, who puts up 13.3 ppg, while draining 55 percent (22-for-40) of his three-point field goal attempts.
Up Next
Loyola hosts Quincy December 7 before taking a week off for final exams.
