Feb. 2, 2008

CHICAGO - Tracy Robinson scored a career-high 23 points to help Loyola University Chicago (9-13, 5-7 Horizon) to a 65-53 victory over Cleveland State (14-9, 7-4 Horizon) tonight at the Gentile Center. The victory is the Ramblers' third in a row and improves the team to 18-5 in the month of February in four seasons under head coach Jim Whitesell.

Loyola held a lead for all but 17 seconds in the first half, when the game was tied at 2-2. Clinging to a 7-5 lead, Robinson and Darrin Williams combined for seven points in a 7-0 Rambler run that extended the advantage to 14-5. Cleveland State was able to get as close as four points (21-17), but Loyola closed the half on an 18-8 run to take a 39-25 lead at the break.

The Ramblers were buoyed in the first period by 54 percent shooting and a balanced scoring attack. A gritty defensive effort yielded 10 Viking turnovers in the opening 20 minutes, and 18 total, for the game.

Cleveland State started the second half with a bang, tallying the first seven points to cut Loyola's lead in half. After the Vikings closed the gap to 52-47 with 6:37 left, the Ramblers scored five unanswered points to build up another double-digit lead and held on from there.

Robinson hit 6 of 8 shots from the field and 10 of 12 from the foul line, while adding three assists, two rebounds, a block and a steal. J.R. Blount recorded 12 points, four boards and four assists, as he scored in double digits for the 13th straight game at the Gentile Center.

J'Nathan Bullock led the Vikings with 16 points and six boards.

Loyola closes out a three-game homestand when it hosts UIC on Feb. 9.