Gentile Arena, Chicago, Ill.The Ramblers have a good chance to break their four-game losing streak and try to hold on to a top-half finish for the first time since joining the MVC. Loyola defeated Indiana State 81-66 on Jan. 28 in Terre Haute, but the game was not that close—Loyola led 73-44 with less than seven minutes remaining, before the Sycamores closed the gap during walk-on time. Since that game, the Sycamores have won three out of four, and the Ramblers have dropped a season-high four in a row.
Even with the recent turnaround, the Sycamores are still a rotten road team. They recently beat Bradley in Peoria, but it was a two-point nail-biter with both teams struggling to get to 50 points, Bradley shooting only 31% for the game, and Indiana State committing 22 turnovers. That gives the Sycamores three road wins on the season in 11 attempts thus far, the best of which came by one point at Utah State.
Loyola has had some problems of their own since the last meeting. During their current four game losing streak, lack of bench scoring has been a chronic problem. In the past four games, Loyola’s bench players Bruno Skokna, Cameron Satterwhite, Tyson Smith, and Vlatko Granic have combined for six points on 1-for-14 shooting from the field. Yes, Aundre Jackson comes of the bench, but that’s a technicality as he plays 2 ½ times as many minutes as starter Maurice Kirby (who has elevated his average scoring with 10 points in the past four games). Minutes have been adding up on the starters, and tired legs have led to missed shots at key points down the stretch.
Last time around against the Sycamores in Terre Haute, Milton Doyle led the Ramblers with 20 points, and Custer (15), Ingram (12), and Jackson (11) each had double figures. And significantly, the four from the bench combined for 11 points as well—the last win, and the last time the Ramblers has as many as three points in a game from the bench. But it’s easy to win when you out-rebound the opposition 30-22, hit 62.5% on threes, and your starters commit only 10 turnovers.
The Ramblers should win this game, but then again, they should have won at least two of the past four games. It would be nice if Loyola could get a lead to get their starters some rest, get their bench players some productive minutes, and get a game closer to evening up their conference record.
LINKS
- Loyola game notes (PDF)
- Indiana State game notes (PDF):
- TV/Streaming video: ESPN3
- Audio: WLUW 88.7 FM (Available on mobile app or at wluw.org)
- Vegas Odds: Loyola by 7.5
- Ramblermania game thread
