CHICAGO (January 11, 2020)
 
In Short
Freshman guard Marquise Kennedy scored a season-high 20 points off the bench and Loyola University Chicago (11-6, 3-1 MVC) shot an incredible 70.5 percent (31-for-44) from the field to roll past visiting Evansville (9-8, 0-4 MVC) this afternoon at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers' field goal percentage ranks as the second-highest single-game performance in program history, behind only a 71.4 percent (25-for-35) effort versus Norfolk State during the 2017-18 campaign.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"I'm proud of the way we played. We had a bunch of possessions where the ball was popping. Marquise Kennedy has a jet-like ability and was really finishing tonight and I thought Aher (Uguak) gave us some good energy in transition and on defense."
 
How It Happened
Back-to-back threes from Noah Frederking erased a five-point Loyola lead and gave Evansville their only lead of the contest, at 15-14. A Franklin Agunanne dunk sparked a string of 11 unanswered scores for the Ramblers as they surged ahead, 25-15. 
 
Evansville was able to get within eight points (30-22), but Loyola then took off on a 13-0 run highlighted by back-to-back dunks from Marquise Kennedy and Aher Uguak to turn that eight-point lead into a 43-22 advantage just before the end of the half.
 
Kennedy provided a huge boost off the bench, scoring 11 first-half points, while Cameron Krutwig added nine, and as a team, Loyola shot a scorching 75 percent (18-for-24) from the field.
 
Loyola kept the Purple Aces at more than an arm's length away in the second half, never allowing the visitors to creep closer than 14 points. 
 
Once Evansville got within 14, at 47-33 early in the second half, the Ramblers put together an 18-4 spurt that featured seven points from Kennedy, as their lead ballooned to 65-37, sealing the outcome.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Loyola as captured 20 of its last 22 home games in Missouri Valley Conference play.
• Kennedy finished the game 8-for-9 from the field and added four rebounds, two blocks and a pair of steals on the way to 20 points in only 26 minutes off the bench. His previous season high was 16 points against Saint Joseph's on November 16.
• Uguak matched a season high with 12 points and Krutwig delivered 11 points, five boards, five assists and a pair of rejections.
• Bruno Skokna and Tate Hall chipped in nine points apiece for Loyola, which saw 10 of its 14 players that appeared in the game score at least one point.
• Sam Cunliffe led Evansville with 11 points.

 
Up Next
Southern Illinois pays a visit to Gentile Arena on Thursday, January 16 at 7 p.m. CT.