CHICAGO (January 20, 2020) - Loyola comes into Wednesday's game versus Indiana State having won 10 of its last 12 contests, including each of the last three. The Ramblers' 5-1 start to Missouri Valley Conference play matches the 2018-19 club for the program's best six-game opening to league play since joining The Valley for the 2013-14 season.

The Ramblers have captured 21 of their last 23 MVC home games and are 19-2 at Gentile Arena in league play since the start of the 2017-18 campaign. After going 11-16 (.407) at home in Valley action in its first three seasons in the conference, Loyola has racked up a 25-5 (.833) mark at Gentile Arena in MVC play since the start of the 2016-17 campaign.

During its current three-game win streak versus Indiana State, Loyola is averaging 76.3 points per game and knocking down shots at a 54.4 percent (80-for-147) clip from the field and 48.2 percent (27-for-56) rate from three-point territory.

Loyola has prevailed in 11 straight and 15 of its last 16 home games in the month of January. The Ramblers' last loss on the Gentile Arena floor in the opening month of the calendar year came at the hands of Indiana State (61-57 on January 3, 2018).

Over the last three outings, the Ramblers have clamped down on the defensive end, allowing only 47.3 ppg. Loyola is the first Valley team since Northern Iowa in 2009-10 to surrender 50 points or less in three consecutive MVC games.

Loyola – Indiana State – The Series

Wednesday's game between the Ramblers and Sycamores is the 30th meeting in a series that dates all the way back to 1924. Loyola has taken six of the last seven meetings, including each of the last three, but trails the series, 15-14.

Since joining the Missouri Valley Conference, Loyola is 7-7 against Indiana State. All-time, Loyola is 8-5 in Chicago against Indiana State and has won each of the last two meetings in the Windy City, including a 79-44 decision in last season's Valley opener as Aher Uguak scored 19 points to pace the Ramblers.

Forty-two years ago (Jan. 30, 1978), Loyola earned 79-76 decision over 13th-ranked Indiana State at Alumni Gym in Chicago thanks to 18 points and 23 rebounds from Larry Knight. Knight's effort overshadowed that of Larry Bird, who totaled 28 points, 16 boards and six assists for the Sycamores.

Scouting Indiana State

Since dropping its first four contests of the season to quality competition, Indiana State has won 10 of its last 13 games, including two of the last three.

The Sycamores are just 1-5 in true road games this season and are winless in three road tilts in MVC action, with all three of those losses coming by single digits. Indiana State ranks fifth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.399), but in six Valley games ranks last in the league in free throw percentage (.566).

Junior guard Tyreke Key leads a potent Sycamores arsenal with 18.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while Jordan Barnes adds 12.2 ppg and 3.9 apg.

Up Next

Loyola visits current Valley co-leader Northern Iowa Sunday (Jan. 26) at 3 p.m. CT. That game will be televised live on ESPNU.