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OT Road Win in KC

12/02/03
by John C. Thomas
The Ramblers overcame a 12 point first half deficit and then gave away an 11 point second half lead, but survived in overtime, 83-75 Tuesday night over UMKC at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. Loyola shot under 50% from the foul line, making overtime necessary, but improved their foul shooting in overtime to nail the important road win.

The Ramblers, notorious for road futility, didn't get off to a very good start. Sporting a starting lineup in which three of five players were juniors who hadn't started more than three games in their collegiate career, Loyola found itself trailing 15-8 with 14:10 left in the first half and having trouble on the offensive side of the court.

That's when Coach Farmer inserted super freshman Majak Kou into the lineup, and the results were immediate. Within his first 20 seconds on the court, Kou hit a three pointer, blocked a shot, and made a pass that set up another basket. By the time Kou came out for a rest less than seven minutes later, Loyola had tied the game at 21-21 with 7:15 left until halftime.

With Kou on the bench, the Loyola offense languished, and the Kangaroos put together a 16-4 run behind the long range shooting of Michael Watson and the inside play of 300-pound center Carlton Aaron. Loyola closed to 38-30 at the half.

The second half saw the Ramblers cut into the UMKC lead, and then pass the 'roos behind the red-hot shooting of Louis Smith, who scored 18 of his career-high 22 points after the break. Loyola took a 56-47 lead with just over seven minutes left on the strength of a 12-0 run. Loyola pushed that lead up to 11 with less than three minutes to play before things began to fall apart.

Down the stretch, the Ramblers were 3 of 12 from the free throw line, and UMKC-with no remaining time outs in the last minute of the game-managed to erase an eight point lead in the last 1:22 by hitting some key three pointers and masterfully managing the clock. The key play came with KC down 70-67, and Majak Kou fouled Mike English, who made a layup and calmly hit a free throw to tie it with nine seconds left.

"This is a great lesson, going 3 of 12 and being forced to overtime," Coach Farmer said after the game. "You've got to step up to the line and put those free throws down."

The Ramblers seemed to have learned that lesson in the overtime period, outscoring the 'roos 9-0 in the first four minutes. But still, UMKC would not go away. The 'roos closed to within three, but trying to foul the Ramblers to put them on the line caught up with them. Watson, Aaron, English, Brandon Temple, and Mark Huppe each fouled out, leaving the 'roos with only four players on the floor for the last four and a half seconds of the game.

Louis Smith led the Ramblers, posting a new career high with 22 points, and notching his second career double-double with 10 boards. Kou added 19, and Paul McMillan scored 18 to go with nine boards for the Ramblers. Blake Schilb also had a good game for Loyola, scoring nine points and playing some good defense in his 21 minutes on the court.

A few things have become clear in the early going.

Majak Kou is the best player on the team and should be in the starting lineup very soon-- if his conditioning is up to going hard for 36-40 minutes in the college game. So far this year he's averaging 18.5 points, and 7 rebounds, coming off the bench.

Blake Schilb is also very good, and may be in the starting lineup very soon.

Louis Smith could be ready to have a phenomenal season. If he can average 12 points a game this season, the Ramblers could go far.

Paul McMillan has been awful this season. He's scored in double figures in both games so far, but he's taken 35 shots from the floor to score 30 points. How can a power forward shoot 34% from the field? By taking way too many shots outside your range. Hopefully, he'll improve when Demetrius Williams gets back.

The Ramblers are off now for another week and a half. If Demetrius Williams can return to the team for the December 13 game at Valpo, the Ramblers might have a chance against a struggling Valpo team that is undergoing a difficult transition after losing several key players from last year.