Men's Basketball Loses at Loyola (Chicago), 68-56, in First-Ever Meeting Between Programs

Chicago, Ill. - Freshman Ben Averkamp had 17 points and Geoff McCammon added 16 in leading Loyola (Chicago) to their fifth consecutive win in a 68-56 victory over UAlbany on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at Gentile Center.

Loyola (9-2) quickly turned a 10-point halftime cushion into a 41-26 lead four minutes into the final period when McCammon buried a three-point field goal from the top of the arc. UAlbany (4-9) rallied to within eight twice, including 47-39 as Tim Ambrose converted a driving layup from right of the lane.

The Rambers, who are off to their best 11-game start since the 2005-06 campaign, regrouped with six in a row. Averkamp, who made 6 of 9 from the field and grabbed nine rebounds, scored in the paint. Walt Gibler, a sophomore who had nine points off the bench, hit another basket and Terrance Hill and Andy Polka each made a free throw to push the margin back to double digits.

"Their frontcourt dominated our frontcourt," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team has dropped six of its last seven outings. "We did some good things on defense. We pressured the ball and our energy was good. But they made us pay for every mistake and we take way too many three-pointers."

In the first half, UAlbany was as cold offensively as the temperature outside. The Ramblers took a 31-21 lead to the intermission by holding the visitors to 34.5-percent shooting and forcing 10 turnovers. Loyola led 7-0 at the start and later pushed out to a 10-point lead when Gibler drilled a three-point field goal from right of the key.

The Great Danes closed to within 20-14 as Will Harris connected in transition. But Loyola followed with six unanswered. McCammon, a junior guard who made 6 of 11 from the floor, scored a basket and sank two free throws to sandwich around Courtney Stanley's follow shot in the lane. UAlbany's Billy Allen later canned a 3-pointer to close the gap to 28-21, but Hill answered with a step-back, long-range jumper just before the buzzer sounded to end the period.

"I had two guys coming at me (every time I touched the ball), so I passed to find the open man," explained Harris, the team's top scorer who was held to eight points. "It's a new style of defense (full-court pressure). We made some plays, but we need to get more comfortable and practice it more."

Fran Urli was the lone UAlbany player in double figures with a career-high 12 points, all in the second half. Ambrose, who did not start for the first time this season, had eight points, and had his eight-game, double-digit scoring streak come to an end. Hill, a transfer from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, finished with 13 points for the Rambers, who shot a sizzling 65 percent in the final half.

Paw Prints: Loyola (Chicago) has won 10 of its last 11 home games against non-league opponents ... the Ramblers compete in the Horizon League ... UAlbany also met Detroit from the Horizon League in November at the 2K Sports Classic Albany Sub-Regional ... Scotty McRae tied a season-high with seven rebounds and added five points ... Chicago native Mike Black, a freshman guard, made his first start since Nov. 13 and had five points and three assists ... Billy Allen, who was in the starting five for the first time this year, equaled a season-best with six points.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information