Horizon League Links

Butler
Detroit
Illinois-Chicago
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Wright State
Youngstown State
Horizon Connection

St. Mary's Excommunicates LU

12/29/03
by John C. Thomas
With a chance to win their first regular season tournament in 22 years, the Loyola Ramblers played like they would rather snooze than fight. Loyola kept pace with the host Gaels for the first half of the game, but showed no interest in very idea of college basketball in the second half. As a result, St. Mary’s outscored Loyola 50-28 in the second half to get the 84-62 win and the tournament title.

Loyola overcame a 17-8 lead with 13:55 left in the first half to tie the score at 34 each at the half.

Unlike the last game, in which Loyola coughed up a halftime lead and turned it into an 8-point deficit in less than three minutes, LU hung tough early in the second half. With 15:56 left to play, St. Mary’s held a 39-38 lead.

But it was all downhill from there as St. Mary’s wiped the floor with Loyola over the last 15 minutes of the half, outscoring LU 43-24. The 22 point loss represents the worst defeat for the Ramblers since a 80-54 defeat at Michigan State on December 17, 2002.

Terrance Whiters and Demetrius Willams led Loyola with 14 points apiece, Paul McMillan added 13, and Blake Schilb finished with 11. SMC's 6'10" sophomore forward Daniel Kickert led all scorers and rebounders with 18 and 10 repectively.

This Loyola team covers its weaknesses with superb rebounding, and St. Mary's-- with three players 6'10" or taller-- dominated on the boards. SMC had 46 boards to LU's 34, but the Gaels 17 offensive rebounds-- more than doubling Loyola's total.

The Ramblers (4-5) return to Chicago for the beginning of the conference schedule on Saturday, when Loyola faces Youngstown State at 1:00 p.m. at the Gentile Center.