DES MOINES (February 13, 2021)
 
In Short
No. 22/23 Loyola University Chicago (18-3, 13-1 MVC) stunned Drake (19-2, 10-2 MVC) with a 27-8 run to open the second half and take control on its way to a convincing, 81-54 victory over host Drake (19-2, 10-2 MVC) this afternoon at the Knapp Center. The Ramblers, who picked up their first win as a nationally ranked team since 1985, handed the Bulldogs their first loss in 12 games at home this season.
 
Coach Moser's Thoughts
"I thought that was a high-level, physical game. At halftime, we said we had to stay with it and keep doing what we were doing, just guard at a higher level. Our second-half defense was really good and helped create offense."
 
How It Happened
Drake led by as many as five points in the first half, rolling off five straight points after Marquise Kennedy's jumper with 8:07 remaining knotted the score at 22-22. 
 
Loyola reclaimed the lead for the first time since Braden Norris' jumper to open the game, putting together an 8-2 run that was capped by a pair of free throws from Tate Hall, for a 30-29 Ramblers advantage. But five straight points from Issa Samake put the Bulldogs back in front and another Hall free throw in the closing seconds sent Loyola into the break down by just three, at 34-31.
 
The Ramblers came out with a vengeance at the start of the second half, crashing the boards and using defense to create offense as it scored the first nine points of the period, four coming from Lucas Williamson, to surge ahead, 40-34, and force a Drake timeout just two and a half minutes into the action.
 
Loyola's lead swelled to 58-42 on Braden Norris' layup with 1:03 remaining and Aher Uguak played a huge role in that 27-8 run to open the period, tallying 11 points during that stretch. The Ramblers, who administered a knockout punch with that 27-8 run, would lead by as many as 27 points (77-50) on the way to their 12^thValley win by 10 or more points this season.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Uguak finished with 20 points and five rebounds, notching his second career game with 20 or more points.
• Norris scored 11 points and Krutwig racked up 10 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for a Loyola team that connected on 19 of 27 (.704) shots from the field in the second half alone and finished at a 63.8 percent (30-for-47) accuracy for the game.
• Kennedy and Hall each went for nine points off the bench to help the Ramblers win their seventh straight road game.
• Loyola limited Drake to a meager 30.4 percent (7-for-23) shooting in the second half.
• The Bulldogs received 12 points from Darnell Brodie.

 
Up Next
The Ramblers and Bulldogs close out the two-game series tomorrow at 2 p.m. CT. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.