Loyola Knocks Off Illinois State 79-69

CHICAGO (AP) — Christian Thomas and Joe Crisman both scored 17 points to pace Loyola of Chicago over Illinois State 79-69 on Sunday.

Loyola (9-15, 4-8 Missouri Valley) raced out to a 15-5 lead, hitting six of its first seven shots, including four treys — two by Thomas. The Ramblers cruised to a 37-20 halftime lead.

A 7-0 run by Illinois State (13-11, 6-6), including a trey by Nick Zeisloft, cut its deficit to nine at the 14-minute mark of the second. But Loyola responded with a 7-0 run of its own and its lead never dipped into single digits again.

Loyola shot 55 percent from the floor and made 8 of 16 from beyond the arc. Nick Osborne and Milton Doyle both added 14 points.

Paris Lee led Illinois State with 14 points and Daishon Knight added 10.

(© 2014by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)