CHICAGO (January 30, 2020) - Loyola closes out a tough stretch when it returns to Gentile Arena Saturday night to take on longtime rival Bradley. The Ramblers, who have won 11 of their last 15 contests overall, are looking to avoid their first three-game losing skid since January 31 through February 12, 2017. Loyola, which is tied with Bradley for second place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, has won nine of its last 10 home games that have been played in the month of February. 

Gentile Arena has provided a definite home-court advantage for Loyola, which has won 22 of its last 24 Valley home games. Since the start of the 2017-18 campaign, the Ramblers are 20-2 at Gentile Arena in MVC contests

Loyola's 6-1 start to MVC play was its best through seven games since joining the league for the 2013-14 campaign. It was also the program's best seven-game start to conference play, regardless of league affiliation, since going 6-1 to open Horizon League action in 2001-02.

In Bradley's last two visits to Rogers Park, Loyola has put up 81.0 points per game, while shooting a robust 58.2 percent (57-for-98) from the field.

Loyola is averaging 72.3 ppg and draining a sizzling 63.8 percent (88-for-138) of its field goal tries, including 52.9 percent (18-for-34) of its three-point attempts, in the last three games at Gentile Arena.

Loyola – Bradley – The Series

Long-time rivals Loyola and Bradley are matching up for the 64th time in a series led by the Braves, 36-27. The Ramblers have captured seven of the last 10 meetings and 10 of the last 14 encounters.

Since joining the Missouri Valley Conference, Loyola is 10-6 against Bradley.

Loyola is 14-12 all-time against Bradley when playing on its home floor and has won four of the last five meetings at Gentile Arena, including an 81-68 victory on March 2, 2019 that clinched the Ramblers a second straight MVC regular-season crown.

When the teams last paired up, in the MVC Championship semifinal round in St. Louis last March, Bradley advanced with a 53-51 victory. Loyola, which was led by 14 points from Cooper Kaifes, shot just 35.7 percent from the field in that contest.

Scouting Bradley

Bradley has prevailed in two of its last three and five of its last seven outings and is coming off an 80-69 victory over Valparaiso Wednesday evening. Although the Braves are 2-5 in true road games, they have split their first four contests away from home in league play, winning at Evansville and Missouri State.

Bradley leads the Valley in field goal percentage defense (.385), blocks (4.2), rebounding (40.2) and offensive rebounds (12.1).

Senior Darrell Brown leads Bradley in both scoring (14.3) and assists (4.9) and his backcourt mate Nate Kennell adds 13.0 ppg and shoots 45.7 percent from three.

Up Next

Loyola is back on the road February 5 when it travels to Indiana State.