Feb. 23, 2008

Box Score

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Loyola University Chicago (11-16) shot 52 percent from three-point range, knocking down a season-high 12 triples, en route to a 71-66 over William & Mary (14-13) this afternoon at Kaplan Arena. With the win, the Ramblers improved to 4-0 in BracketBusters action under head coach Jim Whitesell and captured their second straight game overall heading into the final week of the regular season.

"We normally have not shoot the ball this well, but having 16 assists was a big key to us shooting as well as we did," Whitesell said. "We've been guilty at times of falling in love with the three this season. This is a good win for us."

The Ramblers converted seven threes in the opening 20 minutes to build a 31-20 lead at the half as four players connected from long range, led by Justin Cerasoli, who went 3 for 3 from beyond the arc en route to 13 first-half points. With the score tied at 5-5 in the early going, Andy Polka hit a jumper to start an 11-2 run that gave the Ramblers control of the game. Following Polka's basket, Tracy Robinson, Ross Forman and Cerasoli hit consecutive threes to cap the run.

William & Mary rallied in the second half to close within 50-45, but Robinson and J.R. Blount hit critical back-to-back threes to put Loyola back ahead by double digits. The Ramblers held a 12-point lead with 1:44 left before the Tribe closed to within four with four seconds left, but Aric Van Weelden connected on the front end of a two-shot foul to seal the win and provide the final margin of victory.

Robinson finished with 20 points, the second-highest output of his career, and handed out a career-best eight assists to go with four rebounds and a steal. Cerasoli poured in 18 points off the bench and added four assists, while not turning the ball over, in 27 minutes. Blount, who was held scoreless in the first half, still managed to finish with 16 points for the Ramblers.

William & Mary was led by 18 points from Danny Sumner.

Loyola closes out the regular season next week when it travels to Milwaukee (Feb. 28) and Green Bay (March 1).