Dec. 20, 2006

Box Score

PEORIA, Ill. - Loyola University Chicago senior Blake Schilb became the 18th player in Loyola history to accumulate at least 1,000 career points and 500 rebounds, but the Ramblers (8-4) dropped an 82-73 decision to host Bradley (8-3) tonight at Carver Arena. Loyola turned the ball over a season-high 22 times in suffering its tenth straight defeat in Peoria.

The game was a nip-and-tuck affair for most of the first half before the Braves used a 7-0 run to turn a 21-19 lead into a 28-19 advantage with 4:45 left in the period. Bradley capitalized on 18 Loyola turnovers in the first half and took a 41-30 lead into the break. Loyola, which shot better than and out-rebounded Bradley in the first half, was plagued by the miscues and done in by seven Brave three-pointers.

After Bradley built the lead to 53-37 early in the second half, the resilient Ramblers mounted a comeback. J.R. Blount scored eight of his team-high 17 points during a 14-5 run that sliced the deficit to 58-51 at the 9:31 mark of the second half. However, consecutive three-point field goals from Daniel Ruffin, Will Franklin and Jeremy Crouch and a pair of foul shots from Matt Salley over the next three minutes gave the Braves a comfortable 71-51 edge.

Loyola closed the game on a 13-0 run, but that charge would prove to come too late. Despite the loss, Schilb, who scored 11 points and hauled in a season-best nine boards, joined the 500-rebound club for his career with his eighth carom of the contest. Freshman Andy Polka continued his solid play by posting 12 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Leon Young tallied 11 points and five boards off the bench.

Bradley was led by Crouch's 21 points. Ruffin contributed 17 points and added seven assists, while Salley notched 18 points off the bench.

The Ramblers return home to host UC Irvine on Dec. 22 in their final game before the Christmas holiday.