Loyola Chicago attempted just 35 shots in the game but made them count by shooting 71 percent from the floor in an 80-52 win over the Norfolk State men’s basketball team on Saturday afternoon at Gentile Arena.
The Ramblers made 10-of-13 from 3-point range and 25-of-35 overall while also controlling the glass by a 36-21 margin. The Spartans did force 20 turnovers, including 12 in the second half, but in the end they fell to 0-9 on the year.
Loyola (10-1) which had been coming off a win at nationally-ranked Florida, had four players reach double figures. Bruno Skokna led the way with 18 points on just 4-of-5 shooting.
The Spartans got a career-high 14 points from junior Derrik Jamerson Jr. on 5-of-11 shooting with three rebounds and three steals. Sophomore Steven Whitley also reached double figures with 10 while adding four rebounds, four steals and three assists. They combined for seven of NSU’s 13 steals on the day.
Norfolk State had 23 more attempts from the field than the Ramblers, but the Spartans could only convert 19-of-58 (32.8 percent).
Loyola ran off 10 straight to get its offense going after junior Alex Long had completed a 3-point play to start the day’s scoring, NSU’s only lead of the game. Jamerson started knocking down 3-pointers to keep NSU close. His third of three treys, though, was followed by a 15-2 run by the Ramblers to push their lead to 38-19 with six and a half left in the half.
Senior Kyle Williams hit a pair of 3-pointers for the Spartans as the half wound down. Loyola, though, went into the locker room up 47-28 after shooting 75 percent from the floor and controlling the glass, 21-8.
Loyola scored nine straight to start the second half to open a 28-point advantage before Whitley made three straight layups. Loyola led by as much as 30, while NSU’s 9-3 run off the heels of its defense was as close as the Spartans got the rest of the way.
Donte Ingram made 5-of-6 from 3-point range for a 15-point night with six rebounds. Cameron Krutwig added 12 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting with eight boards and three assists. Adarius Avery (10 points) was Loyola’s last of four players in double figures.
The Spartans had a season low in points for the afternoon. Long added nine for NSU.
Loyola made 20-of-29 from the free throw line compared to 7-of-13 for the Spartans.
NSU returns home to face a pair of opponents two days apart. Up first, the Spartans host Mid-Atlantic Christian on Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.
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