SPRINGFIELD – Visiting Loyola Chicago jumped out to a 22-2 lead less than nine minutes into Sunday afternoon’s game at JQH Arena, and Missouri State was unable to get a foothold from there in a 72-46 Ramblers win in the first of two games between the clubs on consecutive days.
Loyola (14-3, 9-1 MVC) got 18 points from Cameron Krutwig who was 8-for-18 from the field with 5 assists. Keith Clemons added 12 for the visitors who shot 52.8 percent from the field.
Missouri State (9-4, 5-4 MVC) was led by Keaton Hervey’s 9 points. The Bears also got 8 points and 10 rebounds from Isiaih Mosley who came within an eyelash of his third straight double-double.
The Bears made just one of their first 11 field goal attempts while Loyola gained early separation. MSU went nearly eight minutes between field goals by Demarcus Sharp without another basket while Krutwig and company piled it on.
Bust before the half, Loyola capped an 8-0 run with a dunk by Aher Uguak to push the visitors up 41-12, their biggest lead of the ball game.
“You try everything you can in these situations,” said Bears head coach Dana Ford. “They (Loyola) are a high-level team. Drake is No. 9 in the NET rankings, and Loyola is No. 25. This was our opportunity to close that gap and on our home court. We’ll have that opportunity again tomorrow so hopefully that will serve to motivate us in the second game.”
Missouri State seemed to match Loyola in the second half, draining six 3-pointers in the stanza to get within 49-28 on a Ridder triple at 13:16 and later on a dunk by Hervey that made it 64-43 with 4:25 remaining.
Loyola widened the gap at the foul line in the final three minutes, capping a 14-for-19 (.737) day from the line for the Ramblers.
On the afternoon, Missouri State was 16-for-59 (.271) overall from the field, 6-of-25 (.240) from three and 8-for-12 (.667) at the line with 13 turnovers.
Loyola made 28-of-53 (.528) overall, 2-for-11 (.182) from bonus range and committed just 9 turnovers.
