CHICAGO (January 16, 2021)
 
In Short
Loyola University Chicago (9-3, 4-1 MVC) used a 31-8 run in the second half to wipe out a six-point deficit to earn a 72-57 victory over defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champion Northern Iowa (3-9, 2-05 MVC) tonight at Gentile Arena. Redshirt senior Tate Hall came off the bench for the first time this year and responded in a big way, tallying a season-high 24 points for Loyola. The victory extends the Ramblers' home win streak to 16 games and gives them their third 4-1 start to league play in as many seasons.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"I thought our defense created some offense in that run in the second half that got us going and got us a little separation."
 
How It Happened
Hall provided a lift early on, scoring seven points, including five in a 7-0 Loyola spurt that erased a one-point deficit and gave the Ramblers a 16-10 lead with 11:55 remaining in the opening half.
 
Northern Iowa answered right back and countered with eight unanswered tallies of its own, the final five coming courtesy of freshman Bowen Born, to move the Panthers back on top, 18-16. That burst was part of a 12-2 UNI run that gave the Panthers a 22-18 advantage as Loyola was unable to find its touch from the perimeter, hitting just 2 of its first 11 attempts from three-point range.
 
UNI padded its lead, running it to 29-22, on a three from Tywhon Pickford with four minutes left in the period. But, despite being unable to find its touch in the first half, when it converted just 11 of 33 field goal tries, Loyola trailed by only one at the break, 29-28, thanks to a string of six straight points to close the half.
 
After UNI extended its lead to 34-28, Loyola scored seven straight points, highlighted by a three from Braden Norris, to claim a short-lived one-point advantage, but the Panthers then ran off nine of the game's next 11 tallies to move ahead, 43-37.
 
Hall then keyed another Rambler surge, accounting for nine points in that decisive 31-8 run that was punctuated by a three from Keith Clemons, to put the Maroon and Gold back on top, 68-51, with 2:53 remaining in regulation, to cement the outcome.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Loyola's bench came up big once again, totaling 40 points, while the Ramblers' defense forced 18 Panthers turnovers and converted those into 30 points.
• After shooting just 33.3 percent (11-for-33) in the opening period, Loyola connected on 58.6 percent (17-for-29) of its second-half shots.
• Marquise Kennedy also had a big night off the bench, totaling 10 points, four boards, a block and a steal.
• Making his first start of the 2020-21 campaign, senior guard Keith Clemons, who poured in 25 points against UNI at Gentile Arena last February, went for 10 points, five assists and three steals.
• Hall connected on 8 of 12 shots from the field and went 6-for-7 from the foul line, while adding three assists, two steals and no turnovers in 29 minutes.
• Lucas Williamson contributed nine points and a pair of steals.
• Loyola knocked down 10 of 11 shots from the charity stripe.
• Austin Phyfe led Northern Iowa with 18 points and 12 rebounds and also pitched in four assists and three blocks.

 
Up Next
Loyola and Northern Iowa wrap up their two-game set tomorrow at 4 p.m. in a game that will be televised live on ESPN.