Loyola falls to Cleveland State for 10th loss in a row
By Toni Ginnetti tginnetti@suntimes.com February 3, 2012 11:20PM
Loyola’s Walt Gibler drives to the basket, but Cleveland State’s Aaron Pogue (44) knocks the ball away in the first half. | Scott Stewart~Sun-Times
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Updated: March 5, 2012 8:10AM
Loyola’s winless Horizon League streak stretched to 12 straight and their overall losing streak to 10 on Friday in a 65-47 loss to Cleveland State at the Gentile Arena
The short-handed Ramblers (5-17, 0-12) couldn’t match the strength of the conference-leading Vikings (19-4, 9-2), who shot 67.6 percent for the game (25-for-37) and had four players in double figures, led by 16 points from Chicago native Jeremy Montgomery. The senior guard from Lincoln Park added four assists and three of his team’s 12 steals.
The 10-game losing streak is the longest for a Loyola squad since the 1992-93 season.
“You can look at the record and you could get disheartened, but they always practice hard and it’s their character,’’ coach Porter Moser said. “We didn’t lose because we didn’t come ready to fight and scrap. The guards had to take on most of the load.’’
The Ramblers were without junior scoring leader Ben Averkamp, who is under observation for concussion-like symptoms. Averkamp, who averages 13.7 points and was named Thursday to the District 5 Academic All-District team, suffered a fall in the closing minutes of the team’s 47-41 loss at Wright State last Friday. He practiced during the week but on Thursday began experiencing severe headaches.
“He’ll take the concussion test again [Saturday],’’ Moser said. “If he still has headaches, he won’t go.’’
Loyola plays again Sunday, hosting Youngstown State.
Also playing hurt was senior forward Walt Gibler, the team’s second leading scorer, who is nursing a sore shoulder that was aggregated in a game last week at Detroit. He had practiced only one hour in the last week and was limited to 15 scoreless minutes with three turnovers.
In place of Averkamp, Moser started freshman guard Chim Kadima, who had seven points and a team-best six rebounds as part of a four-guard lineup.
Freshman guard Joe Crisman led the Ramblers with 14 points.
“Cleveland State doesn’t give you much room for error, but our guards were scrappy and fighting,’’ Moser said. “But we played a team that if you let down against in any area, they burn you.’’
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