Saturday, February 15, 2014 7:00 p.m.
Knapp Center, Des Moines, IA

Loyola defeated Drake 70-60 at Gentile Arena on Jan. 15 by using a smothering zone defense in the second half, outscoring the Bulldogs 38-28 after the break behind 19 second-half points by Milton Doyle. Since that game, both teams have struggled mightily, each losing six out of their last eight games setting up tonight’s battle to avoid the league’s basement. The Ramblers are looking to break a 16-game road losing streak dating back to January 2013, and the Bulldogs are looking for only their third home win in conference out of seven opportunities.

Drake has some considerable strengths, such as three point accuracy (tops in the league at .396), rebounding (third in rebounding margin) and the play of point guard Richard Carter (16.8 ppg). They’ve played well in their two recent road losses to Missouri State and Indiana State, giving both teams all they could handle before fading in the closing minutes.

Time is running out on the regular season, and the Bulldogs would like to make a push to escape the conference basement against a team that hasn’t won on the road. Likewise, the Ramblers may realize that this game could be their last best chance to get a win on the road before the end of the season, and want to wipe away the embarrassment of their most lopsided loss of the season on Wednesday. Which one of these teams learned the most about the other in their previous matchup to take advantage of the opportunity?

Vegas opening line: Drake by 5.5

Loyola game notes: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/loy ... 214aaa.pdf

Drake game notes: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/loy ... a_drak.pdf

Streaming video (pay): http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/liveEven ... m_id=15700

Loyola audio: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/luc.portal#

Drake message board: http://www.drakenation.com/

You all know what I want out of this game.

Let's get that first road win at the Knapp Center.

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Cigarboy sucks!

Down by 10 already. !%^#!

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MBB Scholarship Chart

Q.E.D.

Losing by 12....to Drake.

Team is flat...playing completely uninspiring basketball.

The lineup of Nixon, King, O'Leary, Turk, and Crisman was really something.

The good news is there isn't a lot of standing around. They are moving the ball. But they're not getting the ball inside enough and so there aren't very many good shots inside or outside. Hoping for a halftime adjustment.

At this point, I'd be happy with playing clear-out playground hoops for the rest of the game. Let Doyle or White drive to the basket with Thomas backing out of a double team to receive a dish off. If we're going to go down, let it be spectacularly.

I thought I heard that on the radio, but I couldn't believe it.

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MBB Scholarship Chart

It's easy for Drake to get enough switches by the LU defense that all kinds of easy stuff is opening up. Fight through those screens!