Loyola-Chicago beats SIU 75-56 for first MVC title (Feb 21, 2018)
CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) Clayton Custer scored 16 points and Loyola-Chicago beat Southern Illinois 75-56 on Wednesday night to clinch its first Missouri Valley Conference regular season title.
Loyola-Chicago (24-5, 14-3 Missouri Valley Conference) won its first conference crown since the 1984-85 squad collected the Midwestern Collegiate Conference title. The Ramblers, who have also won a program-best 14 conference games, conclude their regular season hosting Illinois State on Saturday.
Southern Illinois (19-11, 11-6) had its three-game win streak snapped but now has sole possession of second place over Drake (10-7), which lost to Illinois State (10-7).
Custer was 6-of-10 shooting and made three 3-pointers. Aundre Jackson made 7 of 10 field goals and added 15 points, and Cameron Krutwig chipped in 14 points for Loyola-Chicago.
Kavion Pippen scored 16 points and Armon Fletcher had 14 to lead Southern Illinois.
The Ramblers had a double-digit lead six minutes into the game, built a 44-36 halftime lead and cruised from there.
