CHICAGO – Indiana State basketball did all it could, but ultimately fell short during its Missouri Valley Conference opener against Loyola, falling to the Ramblers 88-76 Wednesday night at Gentile Arena.
 
Loyola (6-2, 1-0 MVC) used a strong second half as the home-standing Ramblers outscored Indiana State 49-38 to claim the win. Second Team Preseason All-MVC selection Lucas Williamson led Loyola with 20 points while three other LUC players scored in double-digits.
 
Making his first career start for ISU, Simon Wilbar drained a long 3-pointer with 7:08 remaining to play to make it a one-possession contest at 66-63 before Loyola went on a 21-13 run to end the game.
 
Indiana State (3-5, 0-1 MVC) was without one of its key players for much of the game as Cameron Henry battled foul trouble throughout. With eight minutes remaining to play Henry was called for his fifth foul and exited the game with 11 points in just 15 minutes of action.
 
Overall ISU was called for 24 fouls while the Ramblers were whistled for 15. LUC cashed in on free throw opportunities connecting on 26-of-31 attempts while ISU was 10-for-11 from the charity stripe which ultimately decided the game.
 
Xavier Bledson led ISU with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists off the bench while Cooper Neese added 15 points and three assists. Cameron Crawford (9) and Wilbar (11) each tallied career highs in scoring while Micah Thomas scored 11 on seven shots for the Sycamores.
 
Indiana State put together a strong first 20 minutes of play, leading by as many as seven points over the favorites to win the MVC. ISU started the game down 5-0 and rallied back in an all-around effort to take a 23-18 lead. Cooper Neese led ISU with 11 first-half points while Cameron Henry added eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, including two shots from behind the arch.
 
Crawford, a freshman, put together a strong first half, scoring a career-high six points on a pair of triples off the bench, helping ISU to a 38-32 lead. Just before half before Loyola reeled off seven-straight points to take a 39-39 lead into the locker room. Braden Norris capped off the LUC run with a three from the wing as the clock expired.
 
Both teams shot 50 percent in the first half with ISU holding a slim lead in 3-point percentage (41 to 36). Marquise Kennedy had a team-high 12 points for the Ramblers while Williamson added 10 points for LUC.
 
Indiana State finished the game shooting 50 percent (27-54) from the field while Loyola improved on its first-half display, finishing with a 58 percent (26-45) clip from the field.
 
Loyola edged ISU on the boards 25-23 and converted 14 ISU turnovers to 20 points.
 
The Sycamores return to action Saturday (Dec. 4) when the team plays host to Miami (OH). Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET from Hulman Center.
 
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