March 4, 2003
CHICAGO (www.loyolaramblers.com) - Despite a slow start, Loyola University Chicago (15-15) earned a 69-57 victory over Cleveland State (8-22) tonight at the Gentile Center in an opening round game of the Horizon League Championship. The Ramblers advance to the second round and will face Detroit at 5 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee.
"We were sloppy at the beginning of the game and I think some of that was residual from the UIC game," Loyola head coach Larry Farmer said. "We were lucky to be at home because it allowed us to play through that sluggish start. Our defense got us going and when we weren't making shots, we were getting second chance shots."
Neither team could get anything going in the first period. Loyola shot just 29 percent from the field while the Vikings turned the ball over ten times and knocked down only 39 percent of their shots. CSU held the lead just once, at 7-6, while the Ramblers led by as many as seven points.
Cleveland State tied the game at 34 five minutes into the second half, but Loyola went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 44-34 lead that grew to as many as 18 points. David Bailey scored eight of the Ramblers' 10 points in that stretch. Loyola came alive in the second period, shooting 51 percent from the field.
Loyola controlled the boards, 46-30, and forced 19 Vikings turnovers. Jonathan Burge and Percell Coles scored 12 points apiece to lead Cleveland State.
Bailey poured in a game-high 23 points and dished out seven assists to pace Loyola. Demetrius Williams chipped in 14 points and eight boards while Paul McMillan added 13 points and eight boards.
