Wednesday, February 17, 2022 7:00 p.m.
Athletics Recreation Center, Valparaiso, Ind.
Loyola kicks off a stretch of five games in 11 days with a Wednesday night road trip to Valparaiso.
The last time these two teams faced off on Jan. 11 at Gentile Arena, the Beacons built a 12-point lead before Loyola fought back in double overtime to win 81-74.
Since that Loyola win in early January, the Beacons got a big OT win at home over UNI and swept their games against Indiana State. But the Beacons have lost four of their last five. Valpo hasn't played particularly well at home this year, with a middling 7-6 home mark compared to their 11-14 overall and 4-9 conference record. It's almost as if the Beacons expend precisely enough energy as needed for each opponent, as evidenced by their eight overtime periods they've played this season and their four games in regulation decided by three or less. Valpo is 3-3 in their games that went to overtime, and 1-3 in one-possession games in regulation.
Coach Matt Lottich will likely start 6'9" junior forward Ben Krikke, 6'8" senior forward Thomas Kithier, 6'4" senior guard Kobe King, 6'6" guard/forward Kevion Taylor, and 6'2" freshman guard Preston Rudeger. Kithier is one game back from an injury. Part time starters Eron Gordon (6'3" senior guard) and Sheldon Edwards (6'4" sophomore guard) along with 6'0" freshman guard Darius DeAveiro are the primary players off the bench.
Since joining the starting lineup on a permanent basis in their game against Loyola, Winona State transfer Kevion Taylor has become a primary scoring option for the Beacons, averaging 15.1 ppg in the last nine contests. Taylor and Edwards are their top three-point shooters, both of whom have 50 or more made threes on the season. Despite the big men Krikke (6'9")and Kither (6'8") playing heavy minutes, 6'4" Edwards leads the team in blocks. Kithier is foul-prone and can be particularly so when he plays hard minutes without a breather. When Kithier gets into foul trouble, it puts more pressure on Krikke to stay out of foul trouble.
As the nearest conference foe and the team that came into the league just after the Ramblers, Valpo fans (and probably their coaches and players) have a particular interest in beating the Ramblers. Add the fact that Loyola has finished first or second every year since they joined the MVC, and the games against the Ramblers have particular meaning for Valpo. So expect their very best effort in what could potentially be the last conference game they will play against the Ramblers.
The series between these two teams began 100 years ago in 1922, and Loyola holds a 44-16 advantage. Loyola is 10-1 against Valpo since they joined the MVC, and the Ramblers have swept every regular season series. Loyola has won five straight games at the ARC going back to 2013.
Loyola is coming off perhaps their best game of the year, an 85-58 drubbing of UNI. The win put the Ramblers back on top of the league (albeit by a half game) for the moment; Missouri State plays Indiana State and UNI faces off against Illinois State Tuesday night, giving UNI and MSU a good chance to get to 11 wins. The Ramblers need to take care of business on Wednesday to stay ahead.
Loyola game notes: https://loyolaramblers.com/documents/20 ... _16_22.pdfValparaiso game notes: https://cdn.streamlinehosting.net/valpo ... 22_LUC.pdfTV/Streaming video: ESPN+
https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=52 ... aiso-US-ENRadio/Streaming audio: https://loyolaramblers.com/watch/?Live=107&type=LiveLive stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=370880Vegas odds: Loyola by 10
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