NORMAL, Ill. (February 21, 2022)
 
In Short
Aher Uguak scored a season-high 17 points and Tate Hall added 11 to help will Loyola University Chicago (21-6, 12-4 MVC) to a 59-50 victory over Illinois State (11-18, 4-12 MVC) tonight at Redbird Arena in the Ramblers' second game as part of a four-games-in-eight-days stretch. The Ramblers frustrated the Redbirds into 36 percent shooting from the field and forced 20 turnovers.
 
How It Happened
Both teams were slow out of the gate at the offensive end of the floor, but Tom Welch and Hall helped key a 10-3 Loyola run that was capped with a Lucas Williamson three-pointer that gave the Ramblers a 15-9 advantage.
 
A short time later, a Liam McChesney bucket put Illinois State back on top, 19-18, but three free throws from Uguak and a hoop courtesy of Welch moved the Ramblers back ahead to stay for the rest of the period. Those points were part of a larger, half-ending 15-4 Loyola burst that sent the Maroon and Gold into the break in possession of a 33-23 lead.
 
Loyola ran its lead to 13 points on a few occasions early in the second half and after ISU trimmed it to 43-34 midway through the period, Chris Knight accounted for four points in a 5-1 burst that pushed the advantage back to 13, at 48-35.
 
However, five consecutive Redbird tallies brought the hosts within eight points, but Uguak's layup and a pair of free throws from Hall stretched the edge back to double figures (52-40).
 
Illinois State staged one final surge, getting within 57-50 in the final minute, but Uguak's dunk with 24 seconds remaining sealed the deal as Loyola picked up its 21^stwin of the year.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Uguak gathered seven rebounds to go with his team-high 17 points, and Hall added seven boards, three assists and a pair of steals.
• Welch provided a spark off the bench, accounting for 10 points, and Braden Norris chipped in nine points and nine boards.
• Loyola held the league's leading scorer, Antonio Reeves, to 15 points, five below his average, on just 4 of 12 shooting, while pressuring him into seven turnovers.

 
Up Next
Loyola plays its final home game of the 2021-22 regular season Wednesday night (Feb. 23) when it hosts Evansville at 7 p.m. CT. Prior to the game, Loyola's senior class will be recognized in a Senior Night ceremony.