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Bailey, Loyola D Downs Butler

2/13/03
by John C. Thomas
Loyola shot 53% from the field and the Butler backcourt could not find the basket as the Ramblers defeated the Bulldogs 73-63 Thursday night at the Gentile Center. David Bailey scored 21 of his game-high 25 points in the second half to hand Butler its fourth loss of the year.

The two teams played a physical first half with very choppy officiating. Physical contact came close to altercations at several points, and traveling and over-the-back fouls went uncalled. Joel Cornette went nuts for Butler in the first half with 16 points, often taking advantage of defensive mismatches that found 5'8" Bailey and 5'10" Terrance Whiters guarding the 6'10" senior center.

But Loyola had balanced first-half scoring, with all seven players chipping in at least three points, led by Terrance Whiters' eight points off the bench. The two teams went to the locker room with the score knotted at 33 at halftime.

The Dawgs and the Ramblers traded baskets until Cornette picked up his fourth foul. With the score tied at 47-all and 11:05 left to play in the game, Loyola went on a 9-0 run over the next two and a half minutes-- powered by a Terrance Whiters three pointer that was followed immediately by a steal and easy lay-up.

The Bulldogs closed to within one point at 56-55 with 6:20 remaining in the game, but David Bailey answered with a three pointer and Loyola slowly pulled ahead of the Dawgs as Bailey scored 11 of LU's final 16 points.

David Bailey was the best player on the court, leading all scorers with 25 points, capturing some key rebounds, making mostly good decisions, and playing great defense. Whiters added 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, and Corey Minnifield had 12 points to go with his game-high 11 rebounds. Cornette led Butler with 18 points, but the senior center only had two in the second half.

Loyola was definitely "up" for this game, and the student crowd was very vocal even before the National Anthem. Butler was favored by five points by the oddsmakers, but whether it was great Loyola defense, fired-up spectators, or just an off night by the Bulldogs, the Butler starting backcourt's 2-for-16 shooting night was the key to the loss.

Loyola made many mistakes in the game-- Paul McMillan was called for yet another lane violation on a made Bailey free-throw, Loyola missed the front end of two one-and-ones, the Ramblers made 13 turnovers to Butler's seven, and the shot selection was not brilliant. Nevertheless, a lot of those goofy, low-percentage shots seemed to find the bottom of the net, and LU's 40-33 rebounding edge was significant.

Lastly, it was great to see David Bailey have the kind of game he routinely put up last year. Bailey's game was even more dazzling in person than on the stat sheet, and his defense was unbelievable. Bailey guarded Darnell Archey and Brandon Miller, and the two of them shot 13% combined while they average over 45% from the field. His mid-air put-back in the lane of his own missed shot was the kind of incredible feat Loyola fans have almost taken for granted. Only three more guaranteed Loyola home games to see David Bailey.