CHICAGO (December 4, 2021)
 
In Short
Loyola University Chicago's (7-2) defense limited DePaul (6-1) to 34.5 percent (10-for-29) shooting from the field in the second half, including just 1-for-10 from three-point range, to rally for a 68-64 victory this afternoon at Wintrust Arena in the first meeting between the city rivals since December 2012. Lucas Williamson scored a team-high 15 points to lead the Ramblers, who claimed city bragging rights and have now won back-to-back games versus the Blue Demons for the first time since the 1950-51 and 1951-52 seasons.
 
Coach Valentine's Thoughts
"That was a big-time college basketball atmosphere. In the second half, I thought we buckled down and grinded it out. A win like this against a team like that shows just how high the ceiling is for this team."
 
How It Happened
Loyola couldn't have asked for a better start, scoring the first 13 points of the contest, while forcing DePaul to misfire on its first seven shots from the field. The Ramblers' lead extended to as many as 15 points (23-8) when Ryan Schwieger connected on a layup with 11:56 remaining in the half.
 
The Blue Demons ramped up the pressure from there though and wound up forcing an uncharacteristic 11 Loyola turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. DePaul closed out the half on a 29-8 run that wiped away Loyola's 15-point advantage and sent the Demons into the locker room on top, 37-31.
 
Loyola battled back early in the second half, scoring seven straight points, capped by a three from Schwieger, to overcome a four-point deficit and take an albeit brief, 45-42 lead. Philmon Gebrewhit followed with a traditional three-point play and Brandon Johnson added a jumper to move the Blue Demons back on top, 47-45, but that was the last time DePaul would have the upper hand.
 
Schwieger's jumper opened a string of six unanswered points that put Loyola ahead for good and his bucket was followed by layups from Chris Knight and Jacob Hutson as the Ramblers surged ahead, 51-47, and never looked back. 
 
Loyola's lead was sliced to two points on three occasions down the stretch, but the Ramblers answered each time, finally putting the Demons away after a David Jones layup with 53 seconds remaining got DePaul within 63-61. The Ramblers easily broke DePaul's press on the next possession, with Knight throwing down a dunk to push the lead to four points and then free throws from Braden Norris and Aher Uguak ran the advantage to seven, at 68-61, to seal the outcome.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Williamson scored 15 points and also recorded five rebounds, two assists and three steals. The Chicago native has yet to lose to a team from his hometown during his five-year career and is now nine points away from reaching the 1,000 career-point mark.
• Knight was efficient off the bench, going for 13 points, on 6 of 7 shooting from the field, and Uguak pitched in 12 points and five rebounds, while draining all six of his free throw attempts.
• Schwieger was solid off the bench yet again, contributing nine points and five rebounds and Marquise Kennedy hauled in a team-best seven boards.
• Loyola locked up Javon Freeman-Liberty, who came into the game as the third-leading scorer in the nation at 23.5 points per game, limiting him to seven points on 2-for-9 shooting.
• David Jones led the Blue Demons with 19 points and nine boards.

 
Up Next
Loyola returns home Tuesday night (Dec. 7) when it takes on Roosevelt. The Ramblers have won 27 straight contests on their home floor, the fifth-longest, active streak in the nation.