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Ramblers Wake Up in Overtime

2/15/03
by John C. Thomas
With several generations of former Loyola players in attendance the Ramblers played their dullest, most uninspired home game of the year against UW-Green Bay on Saturday afternoon at the Gentile Center. A missed Green Bay free throw sent the game to overtime, where Loyola finally showed some spark and prevailed 84-73.

Former Loyola player Stephond Robinson belted out a stirring rendition of the National Anthem just a few minutes after playing in the alumni game. But the Ramblers and the fans in attendance seemed to take the game for granted. Amid virtual silence, the Phoenix took a 19-10 lead with 11:23 remaining in the first half.

Coach Farmer mixed and matched the lineup to try to find an answer for the physical, motivated UWGB squad. With Green Bay ahead 31-25 and 2:40 left in the first half, the Ramblers went on a 9-0 run to end the half with a 34-31 lead.

Loyola clung to a small lead throughout the opening moments of the second half. The Phoenix fought back to tie the game at 58-all with 4:39 remaining, and took a 60-58 lead with 4:12 left to play. A free throw and David Bailey three-pointer gave Loyola a 62-60 lead with 2:46 left to play, but the Phoenix answered with a three-pointer of their own to give Green Bay a 63-62 lead with 2:33 left.

The Phoenix stretched their lead out to 65-62, but Loyola answered with four straight points to take a 66-65 lead with 1:27 left to play. Good play and/or sloppy defense saw the clock wind down to 2.5 seconds left when Louis Smith was called for a blocking foul under the basket.

This gave the Phoenix-the best free throw shooting team in the league, and Mike King, an 84% free throw shooter on the year-- a chance to put the Phoenix in front and the Ramblers under the gun. King missed the first shot, and made the second to knot the score at 66-all. Corey Minnifield's last second three pointer was about four inches short, and bounced off the front of the rim to send the contest to overtime.

That's when the Ramblers finally woke up, and seemed to play with some energy and enthusiasm. Loyola hit both of their shots from the field, including a three-pointer by Corey Minnifield, and 13 of 13 shots from the free throw line.

Even with the Loyola perfection in the overtime period, UWGB outshot the Ramblers 51-37% for the game. The Phoenix came into the contest leading the league in free throw shooting, but just like the Loyola game in Green Bay, it was missed free throws that sent the game to overtime where Loyola prevailed.

Paul McMillan led the Ramblers with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting, and he captured his 10th double-double of the year with 13 rebounds. David Bailey added 23 points, and Corey Minnifield had 16 points. Aaron Jessup led the Phoenix with 20 points, and Greg Babcock led all rebounders with 19.