CHICAGO (February 15, 2020)
 
In Short
Loyola University Chicago (18-9, 10-4 MVC) scored the first 11 points in overtime to earn an 82-73 victory over Missouri Valley Conference leader Northern Iowa (22-4, 11-3 MVC) tonight in front of a raucous and capacity crowd of 4,963. The win is the Ramblers' third in a row and moves them within a game of the Panthers for first place in The Valley race.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"What a great college basketball game. It was tough that someone had to lose. That game was almost a mirror of our game there. I'm really proud of our guys for the character they showed. To come back and defend the way we did after they tied it to force overtime showed our high character."
 
How It Happened
Loyola stormed out of the gates by hitting 6 of its first 8 attempts from the field as part of a game-opening 15-5 burst That lead grew to as many as 16 points (25-9) in the opening eight minutes as the Ramblers defense forced six early turnovers, converting those miscues into 12 points.
 
UNI cut into the deficit in the latter part of the half, using a 20-9 run of its own to slice the Loyola advantage down to 37-32 at the break. Keith Clemons had the hot hand for the Ramblers, scoring 11 points in the opening period on the strength of a trio of three-pointers.
 
A Spencer Haldeman three at the 15:29 mark of the second half knotted the score at 44, the first time the Panthers were tied or lead since holding a 3-2 edge in the opening minute of play.  Back-to-back baskets by Marquise Kennedy and Clemons put Loyola back on top, 48-44.
 
After Loyola extended its lead to 50-45, UNI reeled off eight unanswered points, the final three coming on a triple by Trae Berhow, to reclaim the lead, at 53-50.
 
Then, Krutwig took over for a short spell, scoring three straight buckets to move the Ramblers back in front, 56-53, but Haldeman responded with another three to even the proceedings yet again.
 
Minutes later, Loyola grabbed hold of the lead once again and then extended the advantage to 67-60 before the Panthers closed out regulation on an 11-4 run capped by an AJ Green three-pointer with 3.8 seconds left that forced overtime.
 
Overtime belonged to the Rambler though, as they scored the first 11 points, with Lucas Williamson opening the scoring with a basket before Clemons drained another three to start on onslaught. By the time UNI dented the board with 14 seconds remaining in the extra session, the Ramblers had built a comfortable 82-71 lead.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Clemons scored a season-high 25 points, hitting 5 of 8 of his threes, while Krutwig notched his eighth double-double of the season, tallying 21 points and 11 rebounds.
• Tate Hall added 11 points, six assists and five boards, and Marquise Kennedy chipped in 11 points, three boards and two assists.
• Although their numbers weren't eye-popping, Williamson and Aher Uguak did yeoman's work, especially on the defensive end. Williamson finished with eight points, four rebounds, four assists, two blocks and four steals and Uguak totaled four points and six caroms.
• Green led UNI with 19 points on 8 of 23 shooting, and Austin Phyfe accounted for 12 points and 17 rebounds.
• Loyola has now won 18 or more games in four straight seasons for the first time since the 1945-46 through 1948-49 campaigns. The Ramblers also won recorded 10 or more league wins in three consecutive years. That has happened only one other time in program history (1982-83 through 1984-85), when Loyola was a member of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference.

 
Up Next
Loyola wraps up a two-game homestand Wednesday night (Feb. 19) when it hosts Illinois State at 7 p.m. CT.