CHICAGO (January 8, 2021)
 
In Short
Lucas Williamson scored 20 points and hit several clutch shots, including a game-tying, four-point play late in regulation, and the go-ahead basket in overtime, to help Loyola University Chicago (11-2, 2-0 MVC) overcome a 16-point second-half deficit for a 78-71 victory, in overtime, versus Bradley (7-9, 1-3 MVC) this afternoon at Gentile Arena. With the victory, the Ramblers extended their home-court win streak to 29 games overall and 22 games in Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
How It Happened
A steal and score by Aher Uguak just 19 seconds in put Loyola in front early, 2-0.  Coming off a season-high 24-point effort less than 48 hours earlier against San Francisco, Ryan Schwieger looked to pick up right where he left off, rattling off six straight points, the last three of which came on a conventional three-point play, to give the Ramblers an 11-6 edge with 13:08 to play in the first half. 
 
Loyola continued to attack inside, with back-to-back dunks from Uguak pushed the gap to 15-8 and prompted a Bradley timeout at the 11:37 mark.  Kennedy added an old-fashioned three-point play of his own less than a minute later as the lead reached eight, 18-10.  A Jayson Kent trey sparked an 8-0 surge from the visitors that saw the Braves take a brief 23-22 edge before a Schwieger make from outside sent the Maroon & Gold back on top, 25-23.
 
With the score knotted at 27-27, threes on consecutive trips from Rienk Mast and Terry Roberts staked Bradley to a 33-27 lead ahead of an Uguak finish inside that cut the deficit to 33-29 at halftime.
 
Bradley started the second half on a tear, hitting on four of its first five attempts from beyond the three-point arc to open up a 48-33 lead with five minutes gone.  Lucas Williamson brought the Gentile Arena crowd to its feet, hitting on a transition three with 10:51 to play that clawed the Ramblers back within nine, 52-43.  
 
Loyola continued its charge, with Chris Knight finishing inside on consecutive possessions to make it a one-possession game, 54-51, at the 7:56 mark.  Bradley reestablished a seven-point lead, 59-52, on a Mast layup with 5:47 remaining, but Loyola refused to fade, closing back within three on a pair of Braden Norris free throws that made it 59-56.
 
Williamson brought Loyola all the way back with 1:38 to play, converting a four-point play to bring the Ramblers level, 64-64.  After forcing a stop on the ensuing Bradley possession, Knight muscled up an attempt inside that gave the Maroon & Gold its first lead since late in the first half, 66-64, with just over a minute remaining.  Mast came up with a crucial bucket on Bradley's next trip down the floor to tie the score at 66-66.  Loyola had a pair of opportunities to take the lead in the closing seconds, but was unable to find a bucket, as the two in-state foes headed to overtime in a 66-66 deadlock.
 
Offense came at a premium in the extra session, with both teams started a combined 0-for-9 from the field.  Two Schwieger free throws edged Loyola in front, 68-66, a minute in before Ville Tahvanainen answered with two makes of his own at the charity stripe to tie the game at 68-68 with 1:58 to play.
 
Williamson took over down the stretch, drilling a corner triple with 58 seconds to go that gave the Ramblers a 72-69 lead before going a perfect 6-for-6 at the line down the stretch as Loyola completed an improbable comeback.
 
Inside The Box Score
-  Williamson scored all 20 of his points in the second half and overtime to match his season high. The 2021 MVC Defensive Player of the Year added five rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals and is now averaging 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 2.0 steals per game in Valley play this season.
-  Knight was a difference maker off the bench, posting his first double-double as a Rambler, tallying 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Schwieger, a fellow Ivy League transfer, put up 13 points.
-  Aher Uguak was his usual efficient self and totaled 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals.
-  Loyola limited Bradley's leading scorer, Terry Roberts, to just eight points on 3 of 14 shooting, but Rienk Mast contributed a team-high 20 points to lead the Braves.
 
Up Next
Loyola wraps up a brief two-game homestand on Tuesday, January 11 when it entertains Valparaiso in an 8 p.m. tip-off that will be televised on CBS Sports Network.