CHICAGO (December 28, 2020) - Fresh off a 90-60 victory over Illinois State yesterday, Loyola closes out the two-game series with the Redbirds Monday night. The Ramblers carry a 13-game win streak at Gentile Arena into Monday's game and they have won 17 of their last 18 contests on their home floor. Loyola has won 12 straight MVC games at Gentile Arena.
 
The Ramblers are looking to start Missouri Valley Conference play with a 2-0 record for the third straight season. Loyola wound up with 12 or more MVC wins in each of those previous two campaigns (12 in 2018-19; 13 in 2019-20). 
 
Loyola head coach Porter Moser served as the head coach at Illinois State for four seasons, from 2003-07, compiling a 51-67 record there. Assistant coach Matt Gordon was a student manager for the Redbirds and graduated from Illinois State in 2006.
 
Yesterday afternoon, Loyola led from start to finish and put the game away with a 21-3 run to open the second half en route to a 90-60 victory over Illinois State at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers shot a scorching 73.1 percent from the field in the second half.
 
Lucas Williamson scored a season-high 18 points and Cameron Krutwig added 15 for Loyola, which held ISU leading scorer Josiah Strong to five points on 2-for-8 shooting.
 
Loyola – Illinois State – The Series
Loyola and Illinois State are meeting for the 27th time in a series that dates back to 1980. After dropping 14 of the first 19 meetings between the teams, the Ramblers have captured seven of the last eight matchups, including each of the last three. Since joining the Missouri Valley, Loyola is 8-8 against Illinois State. The Ramblers are 7-6 all time against the Redbirds when playing on their home floor in Chicago.
 
Each of the last four meetings at Gentile Arena has gone in Loyola's favor, including an 84-69 decision on February 19 when the teams met in Chicago last season. Tate Hall scored a career-high 28 points in that contest and the Ramblers knocked down a season-high 12 three-pointers and shot a blistering 58.5 (31-for-53) from the field, posting 24 assists on 31 baskets.
 
In its last three games versus ISU at Gentile Arena, Loyola is putting up 80.3 points and shooting 56.3 percent (90-for-160) from the field.
 
Scouting Illinois State
Illinois State is averaging a league-best 86.9 points per game this season, but also yields 83.4 ppg, eight points more than any other Valley squad. The Redbirds have stumbled in three of their last four outings since a wild 177-108 victory over Greenville on December 2. 
 
One season after going just 1-11 in true road games, ISU has stumbled in each of its four road games in 2020-21.
 
Sophomore guard DJ Horne leads a pack of five Redbirds who score in double figures, with 14.1 ppg, while also handing out 3.0 assists per outing.
 
Up Next
Loyola visits Bradley for a two-game series, January 3 and 4.