ST. LOUIS (March 7, 2021)
 
In Short
Top-seeded Loyola University Chicago (24-4) had a hot hand from long range yet again, and got 20 points each from Braden Norris and Cameron Krutwig, to earn a 75-65 victory over Drake (25-4) in the title game of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship at Enterprise Center today. With the win, the Ramblers earn their second NCAA Tournament berth in the last four seasons.
 
How It Happened
The game proved to be a battle of heavyweights and was a game of runs in the first half. Ten straight points, on two buckets from Krutwig, a three from Norris and a three-point play by Jacob Hutson, gave Loyola a 14-7 lead with 11:34 left in the first half. 
 
After Drake cut the gap to three (15-12), Keith Clemons buried his second three of the day but then was whistled for a technical foul. That seemed to reignite the fire in the Ramblers, who, following a pair of free throws by Joseph Yesufu, reeled off six unanswered points, four of which came off forced Bulldogs turnovers to extend the advantage to 24-14.
 
Drake countered with 10 straight tallies of its own to even the score at 24-24, but a 10-2 Ramblers run that featured treys by Tate Hall and Norris put the Maroon and Gold back on top, 34-26. The Bulldogs got within three, at 34-31, but a basket by Jacob Hutson sent the Ramblers into the locker room with a 36-31 advantage, behind the strength of 63 percent (15-for-24) shooting from the field. Loyola was able to keep the lead despite playing the final 11 minutes without Lucas Williamson, who picked up two early fouls.
 
Triples from Norris, Williamson and Clemons were part of a 17-6 spurt to open the second half that extended the Ramblers' edge to 53-37, their largest of the afternoon to that point. Loyola's lead hit 17 (56-39) on Norris' fourth trey of the day, but Drake wouldn't go down without a fight, closing the gap to 56-48 thanks to a 9-0 run.
 
Loyola put together a 9-4 spurt highlighted by a conventional three-point play by Williamson and Norris' fifth triple, to bump the advantage to 65-52 but Drake would mount one final rally, closing within 71-65 with 30 seconds remaining. However, Norris and Aher Uguak connected on a pair of free throws each to seal the title.
 
Norris was named to the MVC Championship All-Tournament Team along with Krutwig, who was tabbed Doug Elgin Most Outstanding Player.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Krutwig finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
• Norris connected on five triples en route to 20 points and also added three assists and three steals, while Clemons produced 13 points and went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.
• Loyola shot 59.1 percent (26-for-44) from the field and connected on 10 of 17 tries (.588) from three-point land.
• Tremell Murphy and D.J. Wilkins recorded 20 points each for Drake.

 
Up Next
Loyola will find out its NCAA Tournament seed and opponent next Sunday (March 14).