VALPARAISO, Ind. (January 20, 2021)
 
In Short
Visiting Loyola University Chicago (11-3, 6-1 MVC) used a 24-4 run that spanned both halves to break open a three-point game on its way to a 75-39 victory over Valparaiso (3-9, 0-3 MVC) tonight at the Athletics-Recreation Center for its fourth straight win and eighth in the last nine outings. Four of the Ramblers' six victories in Missouri Valley Conference play have been by 30 or more points.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"I thought we defended well and shared the ball well again. Our ability to move it, space it and share it has been good and then the excitement to defend is growing daily."
 
How It Happened
Both teams took a while to get going at the offensive end of the floor, but five straight points from Lucas Williamson broke a 7-7 stalemate and put Loyola ahead to stay, 12-7, in a defensive struggle.
 
Valpo got within three, at 15-12, but from there Loyola turned things up at both ends of the floor and strung together a 22-4 run to close out the period as the Ramblers brought a sizable 37-16 advantage into the break. The interior combo of Cameron Krutwig and Tom Welch was lethal, combining for 15 of the Ramblers' 22 points in that stretch. 
 
Defensively, Loyola held the Crusaders to just one field goal over the final 8:32 of the first half, that coming on a Ben Krikke layup with 4:20 left to play. The Ramblers stymied Valpo, forcing the hosts into just 6-for-27 (.222) shooting from the field, including 2-for-14 (.143) from long range, while connecting on 55.6 percent (15-for-27) of their own field goal tries in the opening 20 minutes.
 
The intensity level didn't waver for Loyola at the outset of the second period and a 15-2 Rambler run that saw five different players score, turned a 20-point lead into a 59-26 cushion with 10:47 remaining, to put the game out of reach.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• The 36-point margin of victory is the largest in the 58-game series and this is the first time a team has help Valpo under 40 points since Michigan State did so during the 2000 NCAA Tournament.
• Loyola got 15 points from Cameron Krutwig, who hit 7 of 8 shots from the field, while Williamson added 11 points.
• Tate Hall scored in double digits off the bench for the third straight contest, totaling 10 points.
• Tom Welch pitched in nine points and a career-best six assists and Marquise Kennedy put up eight points and five boards.
• The Ramblers shot 53.6 percent (30-for-56) from the field for the game and held Valpo to just 30.6 percent (15-for-49) accuracy from the field and 15 percent (3-for-20) from three-point territory.
• Eron Gordon scored 14 points to lead Valpo.

 
Up Next
Loyola continues its five-game road trip when it visits Bradley January 24 and 25.