The Ramblers got everyone's attention in the 2018 tournament, and they're better this season.
No. 20 Loyola Chicago took care of business Friday in its Missouri Valley Conference tournament opener while also cracking open the lid on the basket. A 73-49 rout of Southern Illinois marked the first time in five games, dating back to an 81-point outburst Feb. 13 at Drake, that Loyola scored more than 65 points in a game. The Ramblers will try to fill the nets again Saturday when they meet dangerous Indiana State in a semifinal matchup in St. Louis.
Whether or not they win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament this weekend in St. Louis, No. 20 Loyola Chicago seems like a cinch to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. After dropping the Salukis 60-52 and 65-58 in overtime last weekend to end the regular season and earn the Valley's regular-season title, thanks to Drake's upset loss Saturday night at Bradley, Loyola (21-4) found out Thursday night it would have to play Southern Illinois again.
CONF | OVR | PF | PA | |
---|---|---|---|---|
16-2 | 22-4 | 1862 | 1441 | |
15-3 | 24-3 | 2109 | 1731 | |
12-6 | 17-6 | 1693 | 1523 | |
11-7 | 15-9 | 1613 | 1580 | |
7-11 | 10-15 | 1738 | 1779 | |
7-11 | 9-16 | 1619 | 1740 | |
7-11 | 10-18 | 1821 | 1902 | |
6-12 | 12-16 | 1948 | 1864 | |
5-13 | 12-14 | 1704 | 1770 | |
4-14 | 7-18 | 1799 | 1870 |