CARBONDALE, Ill. (January 27, 2022)
 
In Short
Chris Knight scored 16 points and Loyola University Chicago (16-3, 7-1 MVC) rallied from a six-point deficit early in the first half to come out on top in a defensive struggle, 44-39, at Southern Illinois (10-11, 3-6 MVC) tonight at Banterra Center. The Ramblers are undefeated in true road games (5-0) this season.
 
How It Happened
The first half was a defensive struggle as both teams found it difficult to put the ball in the basket, especially at the outset. Each club started things off by connecting on just 1 of its first 10 field goal attempts and neither squad led by more than three points.
 
Knight accounted for nearly half of Loyola's points in the opening period, notching eight tallies, the final two of which knotted the score at 19-19 with just under a minute remaining in the period. But, a J.D. Muila basket with 25 seconds remaining moved the Salukis back in front, 21-19, an advantage they took into the locker room at the intermission.
 
Loyola's defense forced Southern Illinois into 9-for-24 shooting (.375) from the field in the opening period, but the Ramblers were ice cold in the first 20 minutes, misfiring on their first eight tries from beyond the arc, and connecting on only 31 percent (9-for-29) of their shots overall.
 
Consecutive baskets from Lance Jones to open the second half extended the SIU edge to 25-19. Trailing 29-24, Loyola reeled off seven straight points, five coming from Lucas Williamson, including his first three of the evening that put the Ramblers ahead, 36-33, with 3:53 left to play, their first lead since a 15-13 edge in the opening period.
 
Two freebies courtesy of Aher Uguak pushed the lead to 38-33, Loyola's largest of the evening to that point, but SIU climbed back within in a point before Knight's basket with 1:17 left extended the Ramblers' advantage to 40-37 as they held on for the victory.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Loyola limited the Salukis to 29.6 percent (16-for-54) shooting for the night, including 1-for-14 from three-point land.
• The Ramblers locked up SIU leading scorer Marcus Domask, limiting him to a pedestrian 4-for-18 shooting and just 10 points.
• Knight was the lone Rambler to reach double figures (16 points) and added five rebounds and two blocks, while hitting 7 of 9 field goal tries.

 
Up Next
Loyola finishes up a two-game road trip Sunday (Jan. 30) when it heads to preseason MVC favorite Drake. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on ESPN2.