SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (February 6, 2022)
 
In Short
Lucas Williamson tallied a team-high 19 points and visiting Loyola University Chicago (18-4, 9-2 MVC) got key contributions from several others in a 71-62 victory over Missouri State (17-8, 8-4 MVC) this afternoon at JQH Arena. The Ramblers avenged a loss to the Bears in Chicago last month that snapped Loyola's 30-game, home-court win streak.
 
How It Happened
Missouri State jumped out to a six-point lead but a layup from Tom Welch and Lucas Williamson's 200^thcareer three-pointer drew Loyola within a point, at 14-13. After the Bears were able too push their lead to four points on a Ja'Monta Black trey, Tate Hall answered with a triple of his own to open a 7-2 spurt that was punctuated by a bucket from Williamson that put the Ramblers back on top, 20-19.
 
The teams would exchange leads the remainder of the half and another basket from Welch provided Loyola with a 28-27 edge, but Isiaih Mosley's first hoop of the game came at the 1:41 mark of the opening period and gave the Bears a 29-28 advantage they would take into halftime.
 
Mosley, who scored 40 points when these two teams met in Chicago last month, was limited to two points on 1 of 6 shooting in the first period. Gaige Prim did most of the damage for Missouri State, tallying 17 points and seven boards, but Loyola connected on 54.2 percent (13-for-24) of its field goal tries in the opening stanza to keep things close.
 
A 7-0 run, punctuated by a Keith Clemons three-pointer, gave Loyola a 39-34 lead it would never surrender, early in the second half and once the Bears shrunk the gap to two, at 46-44, Williamson and Welch knocked down treys as part of a 10-2 spurt that extended the Ramblers' advantage to 56-46.
 
MSU would answer right back, rattling off 10 of the next 11 points in the game, to creep within 57-56, but an Aher Uguak layup and huge three from Williamson provided Loyola with some breathing room and it held on for its 11th win in the last 13 road games.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Williamson totaled a game-high 19 points and stated his case for Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year honors. In addition to his point total, the guard added four rebounds, five assists and a steal, while helping limit MSU leading scorer Isiaih Mosley to 12 points on 4 of 14 shooting.
• Hall was sensational off the bench, going for 13 points and four boards, while Welch provided eight points in a reserve role.
• Uguak contributed 12 points and eight caroms and Braden Norris tallied 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
• Prim led all players with 21 points and 10 boards.

 
Up Next
Loyola takes on Bradley Wednesday night (Feb. 9) at 8 p.m. CT in Peoria, Ill. That contest will be televised live on CBS Sports Network.