PEORIA, Ill. (February 9, 2022) 

In Short 
Host Bradley (14-11, 8-5 MVC) shot 50 percent in the second half to earn a 68-61 victory over Loyola University Chicago (18-5, 9-3 MVC) tonight at Carver Arena. The loss snaps the Ramblers' modest two-game win streak. 

How It Happened 
Loyola scored six of the first eight points of the game as both teams got off to slow starts at the offensive end. From there, Bradley got into a grove and reeled off nine unanswered points to claim an 11-6 advantage that grew to as many as seven points (18-11). 

The Ramblers pecked at the deficit and five points from Lucas Williamson closed the gap to 20-19, but an 8-3 Braves spurt bumped the hosts' advantage to 28-22. A Tom Welch free throw kicked off seven straight Rambler tallies that included a shot-clock-beating bucket from Tate Hall, a game-tying three-pointer from Braden Norris and a go-ahead layup from Chris Knight that moved Loyola back on top, 30-28. 

However, four unanswered points from Malevy Leons closed out the period and provided Bradley with a 32-30 lead at the break. 

Braden Norris' fourth trey of the game gave Loyola s short-lived 42-41 lead in the second half, but Bradley spun off the next seven points, the final three of which came on a triple from Leons, to reclaim the lead, at 48-42, with 12:54 remaining, prompting Ramblers coach Drew Valentine to burn a timeout. 

Bradley's lead expanded to as much as 50-42 before the Ramblers clawed back and closed within 57-56 on a pair of free throws from Lucas Williamson with 5:10 left to play.

From there though, the Braves assembled an 8-1 run to move their advantage to 65-57 and from that point, the Ramblers were never able to get within six points. 

A Look at the Numbers 

• Norris scored a team-high 14 points to pace the Ramblers, who had three players score in double figures. 
• Williamson provided 13 points, six assists, five boards and a steal and Knight pitched in 12 points and three blocks. 
• Ryan Schwieger (9 points) and Hall (8 points) also gave the Ramblers some punch off the bench. 
• Leons led Bradley with 14 points. 

Up Next 
Loyola returns home Sunday (Feb. 13) when it hosts Northern Iowa at 3 p.m.