CHICAGO (December 22, 2020)
 
In Short
Playing without four key players, Loyola University Chicago (4-2) shook off a slow start and wound up shooting 68.8 percent (33-for-48) from the field to cruise to a 92-55 victory over Saint Francis (5-2) this afternoon at Gentile Arena in the Ramblers' final tune-up before Missouri Valley Conference play. Loyola has now won 12 straight games on its home floor.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"We really wanted to play again and get guys some minutes and confidence. We wanted to get Tom (Welch) and Hutty (Jacob Hutson) a lot of minutes and there's nothing like game experience for those guys."
 
How It Happened
A short-handed Loyola squad, that played without three key reserves and starting center Cameron Krutwig, saw Saint Francis get off to a quick start, scoring 12 of the game's first 15 points for a 12-3 lead. 
 
That initial burst seemed to spark a fire in the Ramblers and five players scored during a run of 10 unanswered points, capped by a Tom Welch dunk, to put Loyola ahead, 13-12. A bucket by Deandre Johnson put the Saints ahead once again, but back-to-back three-pointers from Baylor Hebb and Welch gave the Ramblers the upper hand for good, at 19-14.
 
Saint Francis closed within two (19-17) before an 11-4 Loyola run highlighted by an alley-oop from Paxson Wojcik to Aher Uguak extended the hosts' advantage to 30-21 with 4:03 remaining in the opening period. That lead would grow to as many as 14 points in the first half, at 42-28, on three Lucas Williamson free throws in the closing minute.
 
Uguak scored seven points in the first four minutes of the second half to boost the Ramblers' lead to 52-34. Loyola connected on 7 of its first 10 field goal attempts in the second half to effectively put the game out of reach.
 
The game was an opportunity for playing time for several Ramblers and they all capitalized on that chance, including freshman center Jacob Hutson, who was making his Loyola debut and scored 11 straight points in the second half. Also making his debut in Maroon and Gold was transfer Damezi Anderson, who totaled five points and two assists in seven minutes.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Welch, who was making his first career start, scored a career-best 17 points and had three steals, while freshman Baylor Hebb netted a season-high 17 points off the bench.
• Hutson tallied 15 points and was one of five Ramblers to score in double figures. Also joining that group was Uguak with 11 points and Tate Hall with 10.
• Paxson Wojcik corralled a career-best six boards and added four points off the bench for the Ramblers, who shot a sizzling 73.1 percent (19-for-26) from the field in the second stanza.
• Junior walk-on Sami Ismail scored his first career points, hitting a three-pointer in the second half.

 
Up Next
Loyola begins Missouri Valley Conference competition December 27 when it hosts Illinois State at 3 p.m.