Box Score

VALPARAISO, Ind. (February 10, 2019)
 
In Short
Marques Townes scored 18 points and Loyola University Chicago (16-9, 9-3 MVC) rallied from a nine-point deficit with 7:43 remaining in the game to earn a 56-51 victory over Valparaiso (13-12, 6-6 MVC) this afternoon at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The win, coupled with Illinois State's loss at Missouri State today, gives the Ramblers a two-game lead in the Missouri Valley Conference standings with six games to play.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"It was about us getting stops down the stretch in about as physical a game as we have played all season."
 
How It Happened
Townes scored seven points early to help Loyola sprint out to a 14-8 lead in a physical first half, as it put together a 9-3 run to open up the six-point advantage. That lead wouldn't last long however, as the Ramblers went cold on offense and saw Valpo heat up. A run of 10 unanswered scores pushed the Crusaders ahead, 18-14, and their lead would grow to as many as six points (24-18), before a free throw from Townes and a buzzer-beating three from Clayton Custer trimmed the gap to 24-22 at the break.
 
Loyola was unable to capitalize on some chances to cut into Valpo's lead early in the second half then saw the Crusaders use a 5-0 spurt to turn a four-point lead into a 43-34 edge, their largest of the game to that point, with 7:43 remaining.
 
The Ramblers stormed right back, with a Franklin Agunanne dunk opening up a 13-0 spurt that was capped by a three-pointer from Townes that gave the Ramblers a 47-43 lead they would never relinquish.
 
Loyola would lead by as many as six points on a pair of occasions and was able to seal the outcome by hitting 7 of 8 attempts from the foul line in the final 35 seconds of regulation. Loyola's defense stiffened down the stretch, holding Valpo to just 1-for-11 from the field in the closing minutes.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Townes added five points and three assists to his 18-point performance, while Cameron Krutwig also reached double figures with 12 points and eight boards.
• Custer chipped in nine points, Aher Uguak added four points and seven boards and Agunanne provided a big lift off the bench with seven points, five rebounds and a pair of blocks.
• Javon Freeman led Valpo with 17 points.

 
Up Next
Loyola gets its first look at Bradley this season when it travels to Peoria Wednesday night (Feb. 13) for a 7 p.m. contest.