Monday, February 1, 2021 7:00 p.m.
JQH Arena, Springfield, Mo.

Loyola had one of its best defensive performances of the year Sunday afternoon in a thorough 72-46 dismantling of the Missouri State Bears. The Ramblers held Missouri State to 27.1% field goal shooting, and limited the talented MSU offense to 15 points below their previous season low.

The Ramblers held the high-scoring duo of Gaige Prim (15.9 points per game) and Isiaih Mosely (21.8 ppg) to 10 points combined, and held the Bears to 24% long distance shooting. If there was any room for improvement for the Ramblers, it was limiting Missouri State's offensive rebounds (11) and shooting better from behind the arc (the Ramblers were only 2-of-11 on three point shots).

Coach Dana Ford starts two forwards: 6'7" junior Keaton Hervey, and 6'8" senior Prim. Two sophomore guards were teammates at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Missouri-- 6'5" Mosley and 6'4" Ja'Monta Black. As of yesterday, 6'3" junior guard Demarcus Sharp was inserted into the lineup for 6'8" guard/forward Jarred Ritter. There is no point guard per se-- Prim leads the team in assists with Mosley right behind him. The top players off the bench, will be Ritter and bulky 6'1" freshman guard Lu'Cye Patterson.

Black and Ritter are the most prolific three-point shooters, each of whom has launched 80+ attempts in 12 games, but they connect at a pedestrian 33-34% rate. Mosley is the most dangerous three point threat, shooting 40.9%.

Even though the Ramblers were able to shut down the Prim-Mosely combo, the league's two leading scorers are not likely to be kept quiet for long. Before yesterday Mosely had scored in double digits for 14 straight games going back to last season (including more than 20 points in 9 of the last 10 games). Prim had scored in double digits in 25 straight games, and had double-doubles in five of his last seven games. Both play with a lot of pride, and won't take the break in their scoring streaks without trying to make a statement.

As for the Ramblers, they need to continue to take care of business. Undefeated and first place Drake nearly blew their advantage yesterday, thanks only to a missed Illinois State free throw at the end of regulation and a game-tying layup that skipped off the rim at the end of OT. Missouri State made their second game against Drake last week a close one, and they absolutely have the capability do it again-- or even stage an upset-- if the Ramblers let up on the gas or get caught looking past them.


Loyola game notes: https://loyolaramblers.com/documents/20 ... 31_21_.pdf

Missouri State game notes: https://missouristatebears.com/document ... 020_21.pdf

TV/Streaming video: ESPN+ https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=d3 ... a6dc8d792e

Internet audio feed: https://loyolaramblers.com/watch/?Live=52&type=Live

Live stats: https://missouristatebears.com/sidearms ... ball/media

Vegas odds: Loyola by 8

Pedal to the metal. Love that we won the 2nd half today (31-30...but still a win) rather than let them get any momentum/confidence like in the Bradley game 1 2nd half. Cannot let up though as Prim and Mosley will be coming out tomorrow looking to put up big numbers.

Our team defense has improved by leaps and bounds since the beginning or the year. I believe that much of it is the tighter rotations once conference play began and the new guys getting more practice time. Can we ever say enough about how Lucas continues to shut down big time scorers?

Nice preview JCT. It would have been funnier if you called the opposing coach Rob Ford again, rather than Dana.

Let’s hope we can keep this up tonight. After last night’s demolition, we are up to #16 in both Kenpom (with the #5 rated defense!!) and NET, good for first and second in the MVC, respectively. Great stuff!

What was more interesting yesterday- the Loyola throttling of Missouri State or the Drake gut-check on their home floor from ISUr? I’m not sure, but I think tonight’s games might give us a better idea of where we are at this point in the season.

A win tonight all-but-guarantees us the 2-seed. With a win, even if we finished out the season 3-4, we would have 5 losses and own all tiebreakers (as there’s no way Evansville gets through 3 series with us, Drake and Missouri State unscathed).

A win tonight makes this a two-team race for the regular season title from here on out, and guarantees us prime position going to Saint Louis, barring a complete meltdown. Huge implications tonight ...

National pundits are already talking about our Feb 13/14 showdown with Drake (Seth Davis, Jon Rothstein, etc.). We need to win tonight and sweep the Aces to keep that positive momentum and national recognition alive. A 20-0 ranked Drake team hosting a 17-3 (hopefully ranked) Loyola team will attract A LOT of eyeballs.

On the national pundits, Seth Davis had a funny tweet yesterday: "Honey I know it's Valentine's Day but Cameron Krutwig is playing can't we go out to dinner tomorrow?" Great seeing that kind of national media coverage/recognition.

Just. Keep. Winning.

NET rankings out:

DRAKE drops to #13

LOYOLA moves up to #16

WISCONSIN at #18.

Missouri state drops from 69 to 94

I think that’s fair. That point margin in the Wisconsin game might say otherwise, but (a) that was over a month ago, last minute scheduling, 48 hours after playing a rival; (b) we were two weeks or so into playing, after being shut down for three weeks in November/December; and (c) we couldn’t make anything that game, and Wisconsin couldn’t miss in the second half (and it was a one point game in the second half).

Play that game now, especially on a neutral court, and we have at least even odds of winning.

But most people will just see the final score.

It’s also worth keeping an eye on North Texas. I doubt they’ll get to where they are a “quad 1” win, but they’re creeping up the NET rankings to at least be a solid win.