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LU Depth Fends off Valpo

12/13/03
by John C. Thomas
Homer Drew’s game plan for Valparaiso was to shut down Loyola’s super freshman Majak Kou and make the Ramblers hit free throws down the stretch. His Crusaders were successful on both counts, but the Ramblers’ newfound depth helped carry Loyola to a 76-69 road victory in front of 4,019 Saturday afternoon at the ARC in Valparaiso, Ind.

After weeks of rumors and speculation, 5’10” sophomore point guard Terrance Whiters and 6’9” senior center Demetrius Williams appeared dressed for the game, answering once and for all the question of their eligibility. Although the two didn’t start the game-- Coach Farmer went with the lineup that started at UMKC and DePaul-- they each played and contributed in an important LU win.

Maybe buoyed by the return of two more experienced players, Loyola got out of the blocks fast, opening a 6-0 lead on the Crusaders in the opening seconds. With Loyola leading 8-4, Demetrius Williams entered a game for the first time this year, and it appeared to pay immediate dividends for his familiar front court mate Paul McMillan. P-Mac scored 14 points in the first half to pace the Ramblers. Loyola led 39-35 at halftime in spite of leading scorer Majak Kou not finding his shooting touch and neither team hitting a three until the last :40 of the period.

Opening the second half, Loyola again set the early pace. The Ramblers have traditionally struggled at the start of a half, especially on the road. But today, Loyola reeled off seven of the first nine points in the opening 1:41 of the second half to take a 46-37 lead. And when the Crusaders threatened to carve into Loyola’s double digit lead later in the period, Whiters hit two threes to answer the Valpo charge. Whiters contributed 11 of his 15 points in the second half.

But with Loyola up 69-57 and 3:15 left to play, the Crusaders tried their other strategy-- putting Loyola on the foul line. The Ramblers entered the game shooting only 46% from the free throw line, and nearly blew their previous game with horrible free throw shooting down the stretch. History nearly repeated itself again today, as the Crusaders cut the Rambler lead to five at 71-66 with just under a minute left. The Ramblers shot only 7-of-16 from the line down the stretch, but Loyola played excellent defense to keep Valpo out of reach.

“You recruit for depth, and we’ve done that,” coach Larry Farmer told Andy Masur on the WYLL postgame show. “We’re experienced in spots, we’re young in spots, but we’re talented everywhere.”

That fact was the key to the game, as eight Loyola players had scored midway through the first half, and all nine players used spilled ink on the score sheet by the end of the game. McMillan led Loyola with 23, Whiters had 15, DaJuan Gouard had a career-high 12 points, and Jason Telford had nine points-- the final two coming on clutch free throws to put the game out of reach. Telford also had five steals and five assists against zero turnovers.

Majak Kou was only one of six from the floor and zero of four from behind the arc. But Valpo did not hit their first three pointer until the last six minutes of the game and finished 2-for-20 on the afternoon.

The big road victory makes Loyola 2-1 coming home for the opener Monday night. And the return of Demetrius Williams and Terrance Whiters has not only added height and experience to the team, but restored the offensive effectiveness of Paul McMillan. McMillan before the return of Demetrius Williams: 12-of-35 from the field (34%). McMillan since the return of DW: 8-of-13 from the field (62%).

The deep, experienced, talented Ramblers play Oral Roberts Monday night at the Joe at 7:00 p.m. Central Time.