CHICAGO (November 30, 2022)
 
In Short…
Ben Schwieger put up a career-high 26 points, leading a group of four Ramblers in double figures, as Loyola University Chicago (3-4) fired on all cylinders in an 85-70 win over Central Arkansas (4-4) this evening inside Gentile Arena.
 
How It Happened
Loyola was unconscious from deep early, hitting on five of its first eight attempts from beyond the three-point arc.  A Braden Norris triple just under two minutes in staked the Ramblers to a 5-0 lead.  After seeing Schwieger connect from the corner, Norris nailed a transition trey to stretch the gap to 18-5, capping off an 11-0 tear and forcing a Central Arkansas timeout with 13:42 remaining.
 
Philip Alston went to work inside just past the midway point of the frame, muscling up an attempt at the 9:24 mark that gave Loyola its largest lead of the half, 27-13.  The visiting Bears chipped away at the margin as the half wore on, with an Eddy Kayouloud three cutting the lead to single digits, 33-25.  Kayouloud continued to cause issues as time wound down, finishing inside with 1:20 remaining as Central Arkansas closed within four, 35-31, at halftime.
 
Alston was the focal point early on in the second half, scoring Loyola's first five points to extend the margin to 40-31.  Schwieger added two more off a nifty find by Tom Welch to push the lead back into double digits, 42-31, with 90 seconds gone. 
 
Central Arkansas continued to stay within striking distance thanks to some marksmanship of their own from outside.  Johannes Kirsipuu's three with 10:47 to play again made it a four-point game, 56-52.
 
Marquise Kennedy pushed the lead back to double figures, 62-52, at the 8:28 mark, connecting on a transition three, before Schwieger connected on his fourth triple of the night less than a minute later, extending the advantage to 65-54.  With the gap sitting at 70-61, Loyola put to rest any hopes of a Central Arkansas comeback when a Kennedy trey was followed by a thunderous dunk from Alston that saw the lead balloon to 78-63 as Loyola improved to 2-0 on the Gentile Arena hardwood in 2022-23.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Loyola finished the night at 54.5 percent (30-for-55) from the field, knocking down a season-high 12 three-point field goals as it operated at a 52.2 percent (12-for-23) clip from distance.
- Schwieger accounted for six of those treys as he finished 9-for-16 from the field, a mark that included a 6-for-7 ledger from distance, en route to a career-best scoring output.
- Norris narrowly missed out on a 20-point effort of his own, closing the night with 19 points (7-12 FGs, 3-7 3FGs, 2-2 FTs).
- Alston was a force inside, adding 14 points (4-7 FGs, 6-8 FTs) while also collecting a team-best six rebounds.
- Kennedy turned in his top showing of the young season, chipping in 13 points (5-8 FGs, 3-4 3FGs).
- Despite going 0-for-1 from the field, Saint Thomas made his presence felt, dishing out a career-high seven assists in addition to pulling down four rebounds.
- Loyola matched its season high in assists with 21 helpers, while committing a season-low 11 turnovers.  The Ramblers were guilty of just three miscues in the second half.
- Kayouloud paced Central Arkansas with 21 points (8-13 FGs, 3-5 3FGs, 2-2 FTs).
 
Up Next
Loyola continues its current homestand on Saturday, December 3 when it faces off against city rival DePaul.  Tickets for the 3 p.m. tip-off are sold out, but the matchup will be televised on NBC Sports Chicago.