SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (January 6, 2022)
 
In Short…
Ryan Schwieger poured in a season-high 24 points, pacing a group of three Ramblers in double figures, as Loyola University Chicago (10-2, 1-0 MVC) ended a nearly month-long hiatus without head-to-head competition by picking up a 79-74 win over San Francisco (13-2) this afternoon at the Lifetime Activities Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 
How It Happened
Lucas Williamson got Loyola on the board first just 68 seconds in, connecting from distance to give the Ramblers a 3-0 lead.  Back-to-back score from Jamaree Bouyea sent San Francisco in front, 10-7, at the 15:20 mark of the first half. 
 
With the score knotted at 14 apiece with just under 12 minutes to play, Loyola looked to create separation, with a Jacob Hutson jumper putting the Maroon & Gold back on top, 16-14.  Two Williamson makes from the free throw line stretched the lead to seven, 26-19, with 8:58 remaining. 
 
The Dons refused to go away, using a 9-0 run that was capped off by a Khalili Shabazz layup to reclaim the lead, 30-28, with 5:19 to go.  Things remained tight down the stretch in the opening frame, as two Marquise Kennedy free throws briefly gave the Ramblers a 38-37 edge before Yauhen Massalski finished at the rim to stake San Francisco to a 39-38 halftime advantage.
 
Tom Welch provided a spark off the bench in the second half, scoring with 14:36 to play to nudge Loyola back in front, 51-49.  Schwieger added a triple on Loyola's next trip down the floor, pushing the gap to 54-49, before converting a conventional three-point play at the 11:52 mark that made it 61-56.  The Maroon & Gold turned up the heat as the half wound down, as scores on consecutive trips from Welch and Kennedy stretched the lead to 75-66 and prompted a Dons' timeout with just 5:54 remaining in regulation.  
 
San Francisco mounted a late push, with threes in the final 2:27 from Gabe Stefanini and Zane Meeks trimming the margin to 77-74, but the Ramblers came up with a pair of key defensive stops in the closing minute before a Hutson dunk in the waning seconds put away any lingering suspense.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Schwieger finished a red-hot 9-for-10 from the field, a mark that included a 3-for-4 ledger from three-point range, en route to his 24-point effort as Loyola finished the afternoon at just under 52 percent (28-for-54) from the field.
- Hutson added 13 points (5-11 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 2-2 FTs), while Aher Uguak chipped in 10 points (4-8 FGs, 2-3 FTs).
- Williamson (2-4 FGs, 1-1 3FGs, 4-5 FTs) and Kennedy (2-7 FGs, 5-6 FTs) both narrowly missed out on posting a double-double, each finishing with nine points and eight rebounds.
- Massalski led San Francisco with 20 points (10-10 FGs).
 
Up Next
Loyola resumes Missouri Valley Conference play on Saturday, January 8 when it entertains Bradley inside Gentile Arena.