Men's College Basketball

Loyola University Chicago 62, Rider University 59

CHICAGO, ILL— Chicago has been referred to as Second City, originally a derogatory term referring to the city as being second in importance to New York.

On Tuesday night, Loyola Chicago was second to none.

The Rider basketball season came to an end in the College Basketball Invitational, falling to the Ramblers from Loyola University Chicago.

Once again the foul line came into play for Rider. The Broncs made 7 of 12 free throws while the host Loyola Ramblers made 17 of 21.

“The first half they let us play,” said Rider head coach Kevin Baggett, “but in the second half it became a touch foul kind of game.”

For Rider (21-12) sophomore Xavier Lundy (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) scored a career-high 19 points.

Trailing 52-44, Loyola Chicago (20-13) out-scored Rider 12-2 to take a 56-54 lead with 1:44 left to play.
That was the sixth and final lead change of the game.

Loyola won its first postseason game in 30 years, since advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1985. 

Holding a 45-42 lead, Rider went on a 7-2 run to take a 52-44 lead with 8:09 left to play. “We had opportunities to win,” Baggett said.

Junior Teddy Okereafor (London, England/VCU) scored the final six points of the first half to give the Broncs a 36-31 lead at the half.

Okereafor, a Second Team All-MAAC selection this year, finished with 13 points.

The Ramblers won 20 games this year, the most since 2007. In the Missouri Valley Conference tournament Loyola defeated Indiana State before losing to the second seed, UNI.

For Loyola, sophomore guard Milton Doyle led all scorers with 22 points.

Rider and Loyola Chicago last met during the 1989-90 season, a 69-61 Loyola victory in Chicago.

Rider played in the 2008 CBI, losing 68-65 at Old Dominion.

On Monday Loyola Chicago will now play the winner of Wednesday's game between Cal Santa Barbara and Oral Roberts.

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