VALPARAISO, Ind. (February 16, 2022)
 
In Short
Chris Knight scored a season-high 20 points, including the game-winning layup with 57 seconds remaining, to send Loyola University Chicago (20-5, 11-3 MVC) to a 71-69 victory over Valparaiso (11-15, 4-10 MVC) tonight at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The win gives Loyola its fifth straight season with 20 or more victories, marking the first time in program history it has captured 20 wins in five consecutive campaigns.
 
How It Happened
Neither team led by more than four points early on and a pair of Lucas Williamson free throws, followed by a Knight layup, moved Loyola on top, 24-23. However, back-to-back buckets from Thomas Kithier and five straight points from Sheldon Edwards provided Valpo with a 32-24 lead, its largest of the period.
 
Despite shooting just 35.7 percent (10-for-28) from the field in the opening 20 minutes. the Ramblers were able to creep within six points (36-30) thanks to Braden Norris' three-pointer from the right corner just before the buzzer. Meanwhile, the Beacons converted 52 percent (13-for-25) of their shots, including 4 of 8 from beyond the arc, in the opening half.
 
Loyola wiped away that six-point halftime deficit, grabbing the lead for the first time in the second half on Ryan Schwieger's layup with 13:58 left to play. A Tate Hall trey push the Ramblers' lead to 53-49 but Valpo spun off 12 of the next 16 points to snag a 61-57 advantage.
 
Baskets by Williamson and Knght and a pair of Norris free throws comprised a 6-0 Loyola spurt that gave the visitors a short-lived, 63-61, lead.
 
Minutes later, with the score knotted for the ninth and final time of the night, Knight connected on the game-winning layup and Loyola came up with a stop on Valpo's final possession as Edwards' three-pointer clanged off the rim and Hall cradled the rebound as the Ramblers won for the fourth time in the last five games.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Knight had his way down low, finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds and four blocks as Loyola put five players in double-figure points for the first time since November 13, 2021.
• Williamson totaled 12 points, five boards and five assists, while Hall continued to look like the 2020 version of himself, contributing 11 points, five rebounds and two steals.
• Norris pitched in 10 points and Tom Welch made the most of his minutes, registering 10 key points, three boards, an assist and a steal, in only 10 minutes, off the bench.
• Loyola flipped the script in the second half, connecting on 17 of 25 (.680) shots from the field to spark the comeback.
• Edwards led Valpo with 23 points off the bench.

 
Up Next
Loyola hosts Drake Saturday (Feb. 19) at 5 p.m. CT.