CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (January 26, 2020)
 
In Short
Loyola University Chicago (14-7, 6-2 MVC) rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to force overtime but host Northern Iowa (17-3, 6-2 MVC) scored the first seven points of overtime and held on to earn a 67-62 victory this afternoon at the McLeod Center. The loss snaps the Ramblers' four-game win streak and moves them into a tie for first place with Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Conference standings.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"We just didn't play well enough to win. Give UNI credit. They play hard on both ends."
 
How It Happened
Two buckets from Cameron Krutwig and a Tate Hall three-pointer comprised a 7-0 spurt that wiped out a three-point UNI lead and put Loyola ahead, 12-8. That lead wouldn't last for long in a back-and-forth battle in the opening period, as the Panthers spun off nine unanswered points to seize a 17-12 advantage.
 
Loyola clawed its way back in front thanks to an 11-4 run that was capped by a three-pointer from Paxson Wojcik, for a 23-21 Ramblers edge. However, the Panthers would rattle off the next seven points to retake the lead, 28-23 and would go on to take a 32-28 advantage into the locker room at the half.
 
After UNI bumped its lead to seven on a Spencer Haldeman three that kicked off the second-half scoring, Loyola worked its way back within two points, at 37-35, on a three from Lucas Williamson.
 
Minutes later, trailing 43-40, Loyola saw UNI reel off eight straight points, the final three on a conventional three-point play from Anwan Kimmons, as he Panthers extended their lead to 51-40, their largest of the game to that point.
 
Loyola wouldn't go down without a fight and three baskets from Krutwig and a three from Keith Clemons accounted for the Ramblers' scoring in a 9-1 burst that whittled the deficit to 52-49 with 2:50 remaining in regulation.
 
Trae Berhow answered with a trey to stretch the Panthers' lead to 55-49, but four straight Loyola points brought the Maroon and Gold within two. A missed front end of a one-and-one by UNI gave the Ramblers an opportunity to win or tie and Tate Hall drained a pair of free throws with 3 seconds left to tie the contest and force overtime.
 
UNI scored the first seven points of the extra session to take control and held on for the 67-62 victory.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Krutwig scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed a career-best 14 rebounds, while handing out four assists.
• Williamson added 18 points and four rebounds and held AJ Green to 4 of 12 shooting.
• Hall added 10 points for the Ramblers, who shot just 36.4 percent (24-for-66) from the field.
• Green and Austin Phyfe tallied 14 points each for Northern Iowa

 
Up Next
The Ramblers finish off a two-game road trip Wednesday (Jan. 29) when they travel to Southern Illinois for their second meeting with the Salukis in two weeks. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT.