Drake rallies to beat No. 22 Loyola Chicago in OT, 51-50

Sun, Feb 14, 2021
By ANDREW LOGUE (Associated Press)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Tremell Murphy scored 17 points, including the go-ahead basket in overtime, and Drake rallied past No. 22 Loyola Chicago 51-50 on Sunday.

Murphy's layup with 2:50 remaining put the Bulldogs ahead for good, 49-48, in the defensive struggle between Missouri Valley Conference powers. Loyola had two shots blocked in the final 15 seconds before Murphy made the clinching steal and was fouled.

Drake (20-2, 11-2 MVC) won despite shooting 33.3%. Loyola (18-4, 13-2) shot 35.1%.

Cameron Krutwig and Aher Uguak scored 11 points apiece for the Ramblers.

Loyola held a 42-32 lead with 8 minutes remaining, but Drake gradually clawed back into contention.

Roman Penn's layup with 1:23 left in regulation drew the Bulldogs even, and Loyola Chicago only had one more shot attempt in regulation as the game went OT tied at 45.

Loyola tried to pull away with an 11-0 run in the first half. Cameron Krutwig scored on consecutive baskets and Marquise Kennedy added a layup to make it 23-14.

Drake closed the gap to 25-22 before halftime on a jumper by D.J. Wilkins. The Bulldogs stayed close despite missing 11 of their first 14 shots and all nine of their first-half attempts from 3-point range.

Drake missed 10 straight from beyond the arc before Wilkins hit a 3-pointer that pulled the Bulldogs within 26-25 early in the second half.

BIG PICTURE

Loyola made its first appearance in the rankings last week, something the Ramblers never achieved during their Final Four season of 2017-18. Drake reached No. 25 in the Feb. 1 poll.

UP NEXT

Loyola plays its next three games at home, starting with Valparaiso on Wednesday.

Drake travels to Northern Iowa for a game Wednesday, then returns home to face Evansville on Sunday.

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