SAINT LOUIS – The Indiana State men's basketball team ran into a buzzsaw in Missouri Valley Conference Tournament top-seed Loyola Saturday afternoon, falling 65-49 in the Arch Madness semi-final at the Enterprise Center.
 
ISU (15-10) struggled to get stops early and never truly recovered, as LUC (23-4), who came into the tournament as the No. 20 team in the country, made eight of its first 10 shots on the way to a 53.6 percent (15-of-28) shooting half.
 
Indiana State had an 8-0 run in the second half, highlighted by a Cam Bacote three-pointer to cut the deficit to 13, but Loyola countered with a quick 6-0 run of its own to put the comeback to rest. Though ISU was outscored by just two in the second stanza (23-21), the first half eruption from LUC was too much.
 
Sophomore Jake LaRavia led Indiana State on the afternoon, scoring 13 points and pulling down a team-best seven boards while also adding two steals and a block. Senior Tyreke Key finished with 11 points for the Sycamores, while Bacote scored a season-best eight. Sophomore Tre Williams added eight points and two blocks.
 
For as well as Loyola shot in the first half, Indiana State was able to keep it close by shooting 44 percent (11-of-25) themselves. Overall, however, ISU finished 38.5 percent (20-of-52) from the floor, while LUC shot 49.0 percent (25-of-51). The difference in the game could be seen by the final assist numbers, however, as Loyola finished the game with 17 assists on 25 made baskets, where Indiana State had just five.
 
The Ramblers won the rebounding battle (32 to 27), but the Sycamores came away with more steals (6 to 5) and fewer turnovers (10 to 11).
 
MVC Player of the Year Cameron Krutwig finished with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Ramblers.
 
ISU finishes the season with a record of 15-10 overall, and went 11-7 in Missouri Valley Conference play.

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