Boxscore (PDF)

CHICAGO (February 20, 2019)
 
In Short
Loyola University Chicago (17-11, 10-5 MVC) shot 55.1 percent (27-for-49) from the field, hitting 7 of 11 attempts from three-point range, and committed just eight turnovers, as it earned a 70-58 victory over Evansville (10-18, 4-11 MVC) tonight at Gentile Arena. Marques Townes scored a game-high 21 points, 17 of which came in the first half, to lead the Ramblers, who won for the ninth time in their last 10 games at home and maintained a share of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"It was good to see a lot of different guys step up tonight, guys like Bruno (Skokna) and Isaiah (Bujdoso)."
 
How It Happened
Loyola used its defense to create offense with back-to-back steals from Clayton Custer leading to two baskets as part of a 5-0 spurt that turned a two-point Ramblers advantage into a 13-6 lead and forced the Purple Aces to burn their first timeout of the contest. Loyola would tack on six more unanswered points to make it an 11-0 run for a 19-8 advantage, a lead they would never relinquish.
 
The Ramblers' edge would grow to as many as 14 points in the first half as they shot a blistering 69.6 percent (16-for-23) from the field, hitting 7 of 9 attempts from three-point range, with Townes accounting for 17 of Loyola's 43 points.  Bruno Skokna's third three of the period with 27 seconds remaining, sent Loyola into the break on top, 43-29.
 
Cameron Krutwig opened the second-half scoring with a basket and after Evansville was able to whittle the Loyola lead down to 47-34, consecutive hoops from Custer and Krutwig bumped the advantage to 51-34, the Ramblers' largest of the night to that point.
 
Loyola would eventually lead by as many as 18 (61-43), but Evansville wouldn't go away however and cut the deficit to nine (65-56) on John Hall's three-pointer from the top of the key with five minutes remaining. However, Loyola responded with a Townes layup and free from Krutwig to bump the lead back to double digits and never looked back.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Townes topped the 20-point mark for the third time in the last five outings, finishing with 21 points, to go with six rebounds and three assists.
• Krutwig shook off a slow start to deliver 18 points, six boards and three assists, and Skokna equaled his season high by pumping in 13 points, hitting all three of his treys, and adding four boards.
• Custer impacted the game in all areas, producing nine points, a season-high six assists and three steals.
• Marty Hill scored a team-high 18 points for Evansville.

 
Up Next
Loyola opens a two-game road trip Sunday (Feb. 24) when it travels to Southern Illinois for a 3 p.m. tip-off.