Nov. 21, 2005

Box Score

CHICAGO - Five players scored in double figures to lead Loyola University Chicago (2-0) to a 99-86 victory over Evansville (1-1) at the Gentile Center tonight. With the win, the Ramblers are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. Loyola shot 53 percent from the field for the game, including a sizzling 67 percent in the first half.

Loyola came out on fire, hitting its first seven shots from the field and nine of its first ten, en route to a 20-2 lead through five minutes of play. The Ramblers built that first period lead up to 28 points (48-20) on a three-pointer from Chris Logan with 3:54 left in the stanza.

After owning a 53-36 lead at halftime, Loyola opened the second half on a 24-8 run to take a 77-44 lead, its largest of the game, with 13:35 left in regulation. Evansville chipped away at the deficit, but got no closer than 12 points (98-86) the rest of the way.

The game featured a whopping 62 combined fouls and 71 combined free throw attempts.

Loyola was led by Blake Schilb's 22 points. He also chipped in four assists, three rebounds, a pair of steals and a block. Logan netted 17 points and five assists and J.R. Blount tallied 13 points and four assists. Leon Young came off the bench for his second double-double in as many games with 16 points and 12 boards, while Majak Kou posted 15 points. The Purple Aces were led by Jason Holsinger's 24 points.

The Ramblers look to win their third straight game and get off to their best start since 1996-97 when they opened up with five consecutive victories, when they host Luther on Nov. 26.