Friday, November 16, 2018 7:00 p.m.
Gentile Arena, Chicago, Illinois

Loyola got back on the winning track Wednesday night at Gentile Arena with a 75-62 win over Niagara to kick off the Ft. Myers Tip Off tournament. The Ramblers had four players score in double figures, led by center Cameron Krutwig with a game-high 18 points. Krutwig had a highlight-filled second half, and also had 11 rebounds for his second career double-double.

The defending regular season champions and preseason favorites in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the Grambling Tigers, visit Gentile Arena Friday night. Grambling has a storied athletic history, including football glory and an NAIA National Championship in men’s basketball. This season the Tigers looked poised to make their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament in hoops.

Junior point guard Ivy Smith, Jr. was named to the SWAC Preseason first team after averaging 16 points and 5 assists last season. Devante Jackson, a 6’9” junior forward from Milwaukee, was named to the conference preseason second team. Dallas Polk-Hillard is a 6’7” versatile forward who transferred from South Dakota State; he’s led the team in both points and rebounds in both of their games this season. They’re joined by 6’4” junior guard Anthony Gaston and 6’10” senior forward Zavier Peart (a Manhattan transfer) in the starting lineup.

Six-eight junior forward Axel Mpoyo is the top player off the bench; he scored 13 in the Tigers’ game at Wyoming, going 5 of 8 from the field with two blocks and an assist. Junior guard Lasani Johnson and senior guard Nigel Ribeiro get a lot of playing time from the bench.

Coach Donte Jackson (who played at UW-Milwaukee one season) has assembled a very talented bunch, with some key transfers from other programs, a juco or two, and five of their top six players listed as juniors. Although they trailed for all but the first minute of the game on Wednesday at Wyoming, the Tigers were breathing down the necks of their hosts all game long. The final was 86-78 Wyoming, and almost all of the game was played within two possessions. Look for the Tigers to make some considerable noise this year, and especially next season.

Loyola Game Notes: https://loyolaramblers.com/documents/20 ... df?id=7216

Grambling Game Notes: Pending

TV/Streaming Video: ESPN + http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/f78d4211 ... olachicago

Live stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=234956

Vegas odds: Loyola by 21.5

That’s a tall starting lineup. Rebounding will be huge

21.5 Favorites !!!! ???? TOO MUCH !! WHY , good grief we would have to win say--70 -48 to cover !! I say we win 80-64 !!

8:00 to go before tip but very very small crowd

It doesn’t look too bad on tv, crowd wise. Students seem like they are still out in full force.

Very good crowd now. Better than Wednesday by far.

Why can't we make threes???

_________________
MBB Scholarship Chart

Townes has really been quiet this half...

I still don't get why Negron isn't playing. He could help us with the rebounding.

Yeah I'm not sure what's going on there, but i don't like it.

_________________
MBB Scholarship Chart